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We are the Leaders We've Been Waiting For: Women and Leadership Development in College
At this time of social flux, of changing demographics oncampus and the world beyond, of recognition of intersectional identities, aswell as the wide variety of aspirations and career goals of today's women undergraduates,how can colleges and universities best prepare them for the demands of modernleadership?
This text speaks to the changing context of today’s women students'experiences, recognizing that their work life goals may go beyond climbing thecorporate ladder to include social innovation and entrepreneurial goals, policyand politics, and social activism.
This book is a product of multiple collaborations and intellectualcontributions of a diverse group of undergraduate and graduate women who helpedshape the course on which it is based. They provided research support, criticalreadings, as well as the diverse narratives that are included throughout thebook, not as an ideal for readers to aspire to but as an authentic expressionof how their distinct and sometimes non-conforming lived experiences shapedtheir understandings of leadership. It goes beyond hero/she-ro person-centeredapproaches to get at the complex and intrapersonal nature of leadership. It alsosituates intersectional identities, critical consciousness, and studentdevelopment theory as important lenses throughout the text.
Recognizing that there are many possible manifestations ofleadership or gender, this text encourages students to embrace thecontradictions rather than engaging in dualistic, black-and-white thinking,challenging them to address such questions as, Should women “lean in” and workharder to achieve their own leadership goals, or should they focus on biggersystemic issues to create equity in the workplace?
Each chapter concludes with a brief chapter review, anarrative from a current college student, and critical reflection questions.
This text speaks to the changing context of today’s women students'experiences, recognizing that their work life goals may go beyond climbing thecorporate ladder to include social innovation and entrepreneurial goals, policyand politics, and social activism.
This book is a product of multiple collaborations and intellectualcontributions of a diverse group of undergraduate and graduate women who helpedshape the course on which it is based. They provided research support, criticalreadings, as well as the diverse narratives that are included throughout thebook, not as an ideal for readers to aspire to but as an authentic expressionof how their distinct and sometimes non-conforming lived experiences shapedtheir understandings of leadership. It goes beyond hero/she-ro person-centeredapproaches to get at the complex and intrapersonal nature of leadership. It alsosituates intersectional identities, critical consciousness, and studentdevelopment theory as important lenses throughout the text.
Recognizing that there are many possible manifestations ofleadership or gender, this text encourages students to embrace thecontradictions rather than engaging in dualistic, black-and-white thinking,challenging them to address such questions as, Should women “lean in” and workharder to achieve their own leadership goals, or should they focus on biggersystemic issues to create equity in the workplace?
Each chapter concludes with a brief chapter review, anarrative from a current college student, and critical reflection questions.
- GenresLeadership
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2020
8 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 24, 2021
This is my book for 2021. I cannot believe how astonishingly fabulous this book is. I have been reading Leadership Studies disciplines for 25 years. This is the greatest book I have read in this field.
Every leader - whatever their power, pay or title - should read this book. It is rigorous, considered and detailed in its engagement with the field. It is honest and brilliantly written.
But this book is more - so much more - than an outstanding monograph or even textbook in Leadership Studies. It is damn inspiring. We live in pretty diabolical times for the workplace, families and the world. This book is motivating. It asks us to do better, and it gives us the language and structures to get there.
This book deserves every award - and all the applause. There is Leadership Studies before Owen's book. There is Leadership Studies after Owen's book. She has improved the field. She will transform us.
Every leader - whatever their power, pay or title - should read this book. It is rigorous, considered and detailed in its engagement with the field. It is honest and brilliantly written.
But this book is more - so much more - than an outstanding monograph or even textbook in Leadership Studies. It is damn inspiring. We live in pretty diabolical times for the workplace, families and the world. This book is motivating. It asks us to do better, and it gives us the language and structures to get there.
This book deserves every award - and all the applause. There is Leadership Studies before Owen's book. There is Leadership Studies after Owen's book. She has improved the field. She will transform us.
April 9, 2025
Julie Owen wrote this book after years of teaching on women and leadership and not finding a book that adequately addressed all the important issues. A great primer on women and leadership with helpful references for deeper reading. I appreciated the conversation on precarious pedestals.
March 30, 2022
An excellent look at women and leadership rather than women in leadership. Would highly recommend to leadership students and practitioners.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews