The female presence in different organisational positions and performance in secondary schools: Does a woman leader function as mediator?

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 14; no. 9; p. e0222411
• Main Authors: Campos-García, Irene, Zúñiga-Vicente, José Ángel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 26.09.2019; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Biology and Life Sciences; Economics; Education; Employment; Female; Gender; Humans; Labor force; Labor market; Leadership; Male; Management; Negotiating - psychology; People and Places; Physical Sciences; Representations; Research and Analysis Methods; Schools; Schools - organization & administration; Secondary schools; Sex Factors; Social psychology; Social Sciences; Spain; Studies; Teachers; Tenure; Women; Women - psychology; Workforce; Spain
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222411

This study examines the relationship between female representation in different organisational positions and performance using a sample of Spanish secondary schools. These organizations have been usually depicted as 'feminised environments' although women in managerial positions are still underrepresented. Based on different theoretical approaches, we separately investigate the relationship between a greater female presence and school performance in three positions: a) as principal; b) on the management team; and c) as teachers. We also investigate if having a female leader exerts a significant mediator role on the relationship between greater female representation on the management team and teachers, respectively, and school performance. Our results reveal a positive and significant relationship between having a woman principal or a greater proportion of women teachers and school performance. However, the relationship between a high proportion of women on the management team and school performance is negative. We also find that a female principal does not play a significant role as mediator in the relationship between having a greater proportion of women on the management team and as teachers and school performance.