Using the Intersectionality Theory to Explore Its Impact on the Experiences of Black Female Principals Compared to Their Male Counterparts


Authors : Courtney Heatherton Blackledge

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 12 - December


Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/3pn867yy

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/4kexdxdz

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25dec710

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Note : Google Scholar may take 30 to 40 days to display the article.


Abstract : Intersectionality Theory provides a basis for understanding the influence of overlapping social identities, including race and gender, in creating distinctive experiences of disadvantage and discrimination. The objective of this paper is to review how the Intersectionality Theory explains the difference in experiences between Black female principals and their male counterparts within schools in the United States. This has been analyzed through three significant case studies, which reveal the challenges experienced by Black female principals working at the forefront of institutional hierarchies and with a high level of complexity. The paper further discusses the implications of intervention and leadership procedures regarding the experiences of Black female principals for the future in terms of policy and actions. Trends and potential changes have been identified, including legislative interventions and comprehensive policies to support Black female principals. Lastly, recommendations were provided based on research to address broader fields of interests that can inform management regarding policies and approaches to improve schools for Black female principals.

Keywords : Feminist Theory, Standpoint Theory, Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality Theory.

References :

  1. Al-Faham, H., Davis, A. M., & Ernst, R. (2019). Intersectionality: From theory to practice.
  2. Annual Review of Law and Social Science, 15(1), 247–265. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-lawsocsci-101518-042942
  3. Bass, L. R. (2019). Black male leaders care too: An introduction to Black masculine caring in educational leadership. Educational Administration Quarterly, 56(3), 353–395. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/0013161X19840402
  4. Bennett, N. A. (2024). A narrative study of intersectionality and the lived experiences of Black woman superintendents. Search.Proquest.Com. https://search.proquest.com/openview/921b4c3f327eec4e83fe8244e00e69f5/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
  5. Bodalina, K. N., & Mestry, R. (2020). A case study of the experiences of women leaders in senior leadership positions in the education district offices. Journals.Sagepub.Com, 50(3), 452–468. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143220940320
  6. Carbado, D. W., & Harris, C. I. (2019). Intersectionality at 30. JSTOR, 132(8), 2193–2239. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26800091
  7. Cheng, A., Coady, E., & Maranto, R. (2023). The roles of Black women principals: evidence from two national surveys. Frontiers in Education, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1138617
  8. Crawford, M. (2022). African American female school principals’ experiences with intersectionality of race and gender: A descriptive Study. Search.Proquest.Com. https://search.proquest.com/openview/594cf9cb659fe4610c9d8cf4b06f0948/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
  9. Fuller, E., Hollingworth, L., & An, B. P. (2019a). Exploring intersectionality and the employment of school leaders. Journal of Educational Administration, 57(2), 134–151. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-07-2018-0133
  10. Fuller, E., Hollingworth, L., & An, B. P. (2019b). Exploring intersectionality and the employment of school leaders. Journal of Educational Administration, 57(2), 134–151. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-07-2018-0133
  11. Jang, S. T., & Alexander, N. A. (2022). Black women principals in American secondary schools: Quantitative evidence of the link between their leadership and student achievement. Journals.Sagepub.Com, 58(3), 450–486. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/0013161X211068415
  12. Johnson, N. N., & Fournillier, J. B. (2021a). Intersectionality and leadership in context: Examining the intricate paths of four Black women in educational leadership in the United States. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 26(2), 296–317. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/13603124.2020.1818132
  13. Johnson, N. N., & Fournillier, J. B. (2021b). Intersectionality and leadership in context: Examining the intricate paths of four Black women in educational leadership in the United States. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 26(2), 296–317. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/13603124.2020.1818132
  14. Lomotey, K. (2019a). Research on the leadership of Black women principals: Implications for Black students. Journals.Sagepub.Com, 48(6), 336–348. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189x19858619
  15. Lomotey, K. (2019b). Research on the leadership of Black women principals: Implications for Black students. Educational Researcher, 48(6), 336–348. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X19858619
  16. Macias, A., & Stephens, S. (2017). Intersectionality in the field of education: A critical look at race, gender, treatment, pay, and leadership. Journal of Latinos and Education, 18(2), 164–170. https://doi.org/10.1080/15348431.2017.1383912
  17. McDonald, J. (2019). Difference and intersectionality. In Origins and Traditions of Organizational Communication (pp. 270–287). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203703625-17
  18. Roth, J. (2019). Intersectionality. In The Routledge Handbook to the History and Society of the Americas (pp. 330–338). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351138703-33
  19. Rutherford, A., & Davidson, T. (2019, October 30). Intersectionality and the history of psychology. Oxfordre.Com; oxfordre.com. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190236557.013.468
  20. Scanlan, M., & Theoharis, G. (2020). Introduction: Intersectionality in educational leadership. In Leadership for Increasingly Diverse Schools (pp. 1–16). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429356261-1
  21. Showunmi, V. (2020). The importance of intersectionality in higher education and educational leadership research. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Leadership Studies, 1(1), 46–63. https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10097181/
  22. Weiner, J., Garrett-Walker, W., Strickland, T., & Burton, L. (2022). Reifying discrimination on the path to school leadership: Black female principals’ experiences of district hiring/promotion practices. Frontiers in Education, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.925510

Intersectionality Theory provides a basis for understanding the influence of overlapping social identities, including race and gender, in creating distinctive experiences of disadvantage and discrimination. The objective of this paper is to review how the Intersectionality Theory explains the difference in experiences between Black female principals and their male counterparts within schools in the United States. This has been analyzed through three significant case studies, which reveal the challenges experienced by Black female principals working at the forefront of institutional hierarchies and with a high level of complexity. The paper further discusses the implications of intervention and leadership procedures regarding the experiences of Black female principals for the future in terms of policy and actions. Trends and potential changes have been identified, including legislative interventions and comprehensive policies to support Black female principals. Lastly, recommendations were provided based on research to address broader fields of interests that can inform management regarding policies and approaches to improve schools for Black female principals.

Keywords : Feminist Theory, Standpoint Theory, Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality Theory.

CALL FOR PAPERS


Paper Submission Last Date
31 - December - 2025

Video Explanation for Published paper

Never miss an update from Papermashup

Get notified about the latest tutorials and downloads.

Subscribe by Email

Get alerts directly into your inbox after each post and stay updated.
Subscribe
OR

Subscribe by RSS

Add our RSS to your feedreader to get regular updates from us.
Subscribe