School management and female principals from the perspective of female school principals

The aim of this study is to understand school management from the perspective of female school primcipals and investigate causes and results of being in a minority status in educational institutions. In order to investigate the life experiences of female school principals working in educational institutions, hermeneutics phenemology which is a pattern of qualitative research technique is used in this study. From purposeful sampling methods, criterion sampling and snowball sampling methods are used in this study. Interview technique, which is the main data collecting method of phenemological researches and document analysis are used together. Data is obtained by "Female School Principals Interwiev Form" and notes held during the interview. Data is analyzed by content analysis and codes are discussed and interpreted in the framework of relevant literature. Research results show that female school principals' minority status is due to individual, social and organizational reasons. The individual properties such as having leadership qualifications, being career oriented, ready to take risks are effective in the management choice. Moreover shortage of time as a result of the responsibilities of women is also affecting women's career choices. Lack of family support and absence of the notions supporting female school principals is also playing an important role in their career choices. The minority status of female school principals isn't only identified as a result of individual characteristics. Women' secondary position in society as a result of traditional social structures, occupational stereotypes, minority status of female school principals, red tapes and negative perspectives of people around prevent women's career. However, research results show that some social notions support female school principals. Research results show that bureaucratic organizational structure, organizational culture based on gender discrimination, quenbee syndrome, laws and regulations supporting female school principals affects women' career choices negatively while a supportive attitude of senior management, organizational culture based on equality and some laws and regulations supporting male school principals affect women' career choices positively. Research results also indicate that as a result of minority status of female school principals', their actions are visible and this situation causes performance pressure on female school principals. Research results also state that they feel lonely in their organizations. Female school principals indicate that they see themselves as a mother of the organization and being a mother in school has a positive effect on communication in school and in communication in social institutions. They also state that being a mother is the main difference between female and male school principals. Keywords: Female school principals, individual, social and organizational reasons.