Their Perceptions of How Others Perceive Them: Black Women Administrators Internalize Others’ Perceptions of Them as Leaders

 
 
 
 

Their Perceptions of How Others Perceive Them: Black Women Administrators Internalize Others’ Perceptions of Them as Leaders

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Title: Their Perceptions of How Others Perceive Them: Black Women Administrators Internalize Others’ Perceptions of Them as Leaders
Author: MosleyAnderson, Juliana M.
Description: In recent years the amount of literature on Black women administrators (BWAs) in higher education has gradually increased. However, there has been limited research that specifically explores how BWAs’ leadership perceptions and behavior are affected by others’ perceptions of them. Thus, this study attempts to build that particular foundation in the literature. The purpose of this study was to better understand and describe how others perceived Black women in higher education administration, from the views of the BWAs. Six Black women administrators from various universities participated in semi-structured interviews and were asked questions based on the following objectives: (1) to concentrate on how BWAs perceived others’ perceptions of them as leaders; (2) to describe how BWAs felt about those perceptions; (3) to explore why BWAs believed the perceptions existed; and (4) to determine how the Black women administrators were affected by their perceptions of how others perceived them. In the exploration of these objectives, a final focus of this study emerged, which centered on the self-perceptions the Black women administrators held about leadership. As initially anticipated, the women’s stories presented others’ perceptions of them as leaders, but also expressed the Black women’s personal views of their leadership. In the discussion of the administrators’ perceptions and experiences, several categories emerged: how BWAs defined leadership; BWAs self-perceptions as leaders; others’ perceptions of BWAs as leaders; misconceptions and negative perceptions of BWAs; discrimination based on race and gender; and how BWAs are affected by others’ perceptions of them. This presentation of connected categories brought life to the BWAs stories through interpretation and description of their perceptions and experiences as leaders. In an attempt to better understand the realities of the Black women administrators, I include my personal story and reflections concerning their leadership and mine. In the connections between each category and each of the women, a thematic framework focusing on the concept of dualism bridging their stories emerged. Much like that of the final category and in the discussion of dualisms, the theme speaks to how BWAs were affected by others’ perceptions of them. Specifically, the theme of Internalizing other’s perceptions, revealed how these external perceptions were internalized and affected the BWAs’ attitudes, behavior, and personal self-perceptions as leaders. The implicit nature of how these women’s leadership was affected by others’ perceptions of them, speaks to the great importance of this relationship.
Permanent Link: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami988639703
http://hdl.handle.net/2374.OX/18548
Date: 2001

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