Women in Leadership and Social Change (Essay Sample)

Women in Leadership and Social Change
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Introduction
Leadership is crucial in influencing outcome of the socio-economic activities that we undertake. In this leadership field, women are marginalized especially in most top positions which are mainly dominated by men they however have significant advantages over men in those fields that they largely dominate. Research has shown that women have an exemplary outstanding impact on leadership (Folta, 2012). This paper will consider the impact that women have on community and social changes as well as the leadership approaches and theories that women may use to accentuate to lessen their underrepresentation in leadership.
The main theories and approaches that women may use include: social justice theory, social change approach and transformational approach. Social justice theory advocates for equity in every aspect of leadership rather than in only a reserve of some people. It gives an impartial and fair treatment for groups in the community.
In leadership positions, women may also use social change approach that approaches leadership as a collaborative, values-based process which ends up in positive social change that is purposeful. According to Cheung (2010), this approach espouses the fact that everyone can lead and that leadership can be developed by everyone who seeks it. Women who seeks to address their underrepresentation in leadership through this approach should put the following assumptions into considerations; leadership is collaborative, values-based, community involvement, socially responsible and that it’s a process, not a position
Transformational leadership approach is another approach that women can effectively use to address this problem of underrepresentation in leadership (Northouse, 2013). It refers to a leadership style which involves inspiring positive changes to followers. Transformational women leaders are generally enthusiastic, passionate energetic and are mainly concerned and involved in the process to ensure every member of the group succeed as well. This app...