Women's Leadership as Top Management in Educational Institution: Society Construction and Cultural Dilemma

Abstract

The leadership of a woman in a top management position in educational institution is still in a small number, what causes the number of women in top management positions is low. This research tries to explain how society and culture constructions affect women to be in top management position in educational institution. The study was conducted in a public university in Bandung with 17 informants as academic and nonacademic structural officers and subordinates from female leaders. The data were collected by observation, interview, and literature study, using qualitative descriptive analytical approach. The results of this study indicate that there is lack of trust in the woman's leadership due to the construction of society and culture that form the assumption that a leader must be man. Therefore, it reduces competition and the desire of women to compete, and emerging their weaknesses by not daring to take risks over the opportunity.