Influences associated with the underrepresentation of women in administrative positions in education

Women are greatly underrepresented in administrative positions at all levels of education. In spite of all the efforts that have been made to recruit women into, and to encourage women to seek, traditionally male-dominated careers, the statistics continue to be discouraging. Nationally, five percent of school superintendents are women, a 1989 National School Boards Association survey found. Only 10 percent of high school principals are women, 17 percent of junior high and middle school principals are women, and 32 percent of elementary school principals are women (Lanter, 1989). A September 30, 1990 fiscal year report of Iowa public universities showed that 21.6 percent of all faculty members are women at the University of Iowa, 25.1 percent are women at Iowa State University, and 34.3 percent are women at the University of Northern Iowa (Muller, 1991). These statistics raise many questions about women and their access to positions in educational administration. The purpose of this study is to examine the influences which are associated with the underrepresentation of women in administrative positions in education