What Is Women’s Academic Leadership in STEM? A Conceptual Approach
Abstract
This study presents a Systematic Literature Review, which analyzes academic articles and conference proceedings that address women's academic leadership in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Through the survey of Portuguese, Spanish, and English studies, we identified ten categorizations of women's academic leadership in STEM. Based on conceptualizations, it was possible to define aspects of this leadership model, namely administrative, scientific, and cultural. These aspects are relevant to promoting gender equity and inclusion in STEM academic leadership.References
Babalola, O. O., du Plessis, Y., and Babalola, S. S. (2023). “Power of shared success: How can sharing success and roles of others motivate African women in STEM?” International Journal of Educational and Vocational Guidance. DOI: 10.1007/s10775-023-09583-1
Bello, A. and Estébanez, M. E. (2019). “An unbalanced equation: Increasing participation of women in STEM in LAC.” UNESCO Regional Office for Science in Latin America and the Caribbean, UNESCO Office in Montevideo. [link]
Bello, A., Blowers, T., Schneegans, S. and Tiffany, S. (2021). “To be smart, the digital revolution will need to be inclusive: Excerpt from the UNESCO science report”. UNESCO. [link]
Bilimoria, D., and Singer, L. T. (2019). “Institutions developing excellence in academic leadership (IDEAL): A partnership to advance gender equity, diversity, and inclusion in academic STEM.” Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 38(3), 362-381. DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3344656
Blaney, J. (2020). “Undergraduate STEM leadership: Understanding the gender gap in self-rated leadership ability by exploring women’s meaning-making.” Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering, 26. DOI: 10.1615/JWomenMinorScienEng.2020029561
Boateng, F. K. (2017). “Unfettering the ball and chain of gender discrimination: Gendered experiences of senior STEM women in Ghana.” Cogent Education, 4(1). DOI: 10.1080/2331186X.2017.1418135
Chassot, A. (2019). A ciência é masculina? É, sim senhora! 9. ed. São Leopoldo: Unisinos, 166 p.
Dugan, J. P., Fath, K. Q., Howes, S. D., Lavelle, K. R., and Polanin, J. R. (2013). “Developing the Leadership Capacity and Leader Efficacy of College Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Fields.” Journal of Leadership Studies, 7(3). DOI: 10.1002/jls.21292
Escaldelai, F. M. D., Escaldelai, L., and Bergamaschi, D. P. (2022). Systematic Review Support software system: Web-based solution for managing duplicates and screening eligible studies. Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia, 25, e220030. DOI: 10.1590/1980-549720220030
Forte-Celaya, M. R., Burgos-López, M. Y., Lara-Prieto, V., Ramírez-Figueroa, C., and Franco-Peñuelas, D. (2021). “Professional development support for women engineering faculty with Lean in Circles.” [Conference presentation]. 2021 World Engineering Education Forum/Global Engineering Deans Council, Madrid, Spain. DOI: 10.1109/WEEF/GEDC53299.2021.9657270
Grant, M. J. and Booth, A. (2009). “A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies.” Health Information and Libraries Journal, 26, 91–108, DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-1842.2009.00848.x
Hart, J. (2016). “Dissecting a gendered organization: Implications for career trajectories for mid-career faculty women in STEM.” The Journal of Higher Education, 87(5), 605-634. DOI: 10.1080/00221546.2016.11777416
Hodari, A. K., Ong, M., Ko, L. T., and Kachchaf, R. R. (2014). “New enactments of mentoring and activism: U.S. women of color in computing education and careers.” [Conference presentation]. Tenth Annual Conference on International Computing Education Research, New York. Association for Computing Machinery. 83-90. DOI: 10.1145/2632320.2632357
IDRC - International Development Research Centre. Latin American Open Data for Gender Equality Policies Focusing on Leadership in STEM. [link]
Johnson, R. S., Benjamin, C., Miksys, C., and Gartstein, M. (2022). “A pathway to systemic changes in STEM leadership: Increasing representation of women through the External Mentor Program.” Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering, 29. DOI: 10.1615/JWomenMinorScienEng.2022038588
Liévano-Latorre, L. F., Da Silva, R. A., Vieira, R. R. S.; Resende, F. M.; Ribeiro, B. R.; Borges, F. J. A.; Sales, L., and Loyola, R. (2020). “Pervasive gender bias in editorial boards of biodiversity conservation journals. Biological Conservation”, 251, 108767. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108767
Maciel, C., Guzman, I. R., Berardi, R. C. G., Caballero, B. B., Rodriguez-Rodriguez, N., Frigo, L., Salgado, L., Jimenez, E., Bim, S. A. and Tapia, P. C. (2023). Open data platform to promote gender equality policies in STEM”. In: Western Decision Sciences Institute (WDSI), Proceedings [...]. Portland, Oregon. [link]
Maciel, C., Guzman, I. R., Berardi, R. C. G., Rodriguez-Rodriguez, N., Frigo, L., Salgado, L; Frigo, L. B., Branisa, B., Jiménez, E. (2024). “An open data platform to advance gender equality in STEM in Latin America.” Communications of the ACM, 67(8), 90-92, [link]
McCullough, L. (2020). “Proportions of women in STEM leadership in the academy in the USA.” Education Sciences, 10(1), 1. DOI: 10.3390/educsci10010001
McGee, E., Main, J., Miles, M., and Cox, M. (2021). “An intersectional approach to investigating persistence among women of color tenure-track engineering faculty.” Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering, 27. DOI: 10.1615/JWomenMinorScienEng.2020035632
Melo, B., Pessoa, L., Rameh, I., and Brandão, S. (2023). Revisão Sistemática de Literatura (RSL) (livro eletrônico): um guia da teoria à prática. Ed. dos Autores. [link]
Okoli, C. (2019). “Guia para realizar uma revisão sistemática da literatura. Tradução de David Wesley Amado Duarte; Revisão técnica e introdução de João Mattar.” EAD em Foco, 9(1), DOI: 10.18264/eadf.v9i1.748
Rauch, C. F. and Behling, O. (1984). “Functionalism: Basis for an Alternate Approach to the Study of Leadership”. Leaders and Managers: International Perspectives on Managerial Behavior and Leadership, 45-62, DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-08-030943-9.50012-7
Rehbock, S. K., Knipfer, K., and Peus, C. (2021).” What Got You Here, Won't Help You There: Changing Requirements in the Pre-Versus the Post-tenure Career Stage in Academia.” Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 569281. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.569281
Rezk, M. R. A., Shafai, B., Piccinetti, L., Salem, N., Elbanna, S., Radwan, A., and Sakr, M. M. (2022). “Women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) “Egyptian case study”. Insights into Regional Development, 4(4), 52-62. DOI: 10.9770/IRD.2022.4.4(4)
Reznik, G., and Massarani, L. (2022). “Mapeamento e importância de projetos para equidade de gênero na educação em STEM.” Cadernos de Pesquisa, 52, e09179. [link]
Souza, R. and Wood Jr, T. (2022). “Múltiplas Lentes de Estudo e Abordagem da Liderança”. Revista de Administração de Empresas, 62(6), e2021–0392, DOI: 10.1590/S0034-759020220607x
Su, X., Johnson, J., and Bozeman, B. (2015). “Gender diversity strategy in academic departments: exploring organizational determinants”. Higher Education, 69, 839–858. DOI: 10.1007/s10734-014-9808-z
Towni, S. N., Arisha, A., Rahman, N. N., Rasul, I. I., Hossain, M., and Iftekhar, L. (2021). “Gender distribution in academic leadership: An exploratory study of top universities of Bangladesh” [Conference presentation]. 2021 World Engineering Education Forum/ Global Engineering Deans Council. Madrid, Spain. DOI: 10.1109/WEEF/GEDC53299.2021.9657169
Bello, A. and Estébanez, M. E. (2019). “An unbalanced equation: Increasing participation of women in STEM in LAC.” UNESCO Regional Office for Science in Latin America and the Caribbean, UNESCO Office in Montevideo. [link]
Bello, A., Blowers, T., Schneegans, S. and Tiffany, S. (2021). “To be smart, the digital revolution will need to be inclusive: Excerpt from the UNESCO science report”. UNESCO. [link]
Bilimoria, D., and Singer, L. T. (2019). “Institutions developing excellence in academic leadership (IDEAL): A partnership to advance gender equity, diversity, and inclusion in academic STEM.” Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 38(3), 362-381. DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3344656
Blaney, J. (2020). “Undergraduate STEM leadership: Understanding the gender gap in self-rated leadership ability by exploring women’s meaning-making.” Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering, 26. DOI: 10.1615/JWomenMinorScienEng.2020029561
Boateng, F. K. (2017). “Unfettering the ball and chain of gender discrimination: Gendered experiences of senior STEM women in Ghana.” Cogent Education, 4(1). DOI: 10.1080/2331186X.2017.1418135
Chassot, A. (2019). A ciência é masculina? É, sim senhora! 9. ed. São Leopoldo: Unisinos, 166 p.
Dugan, J. P., Fath, K. Q., Howes, S. D., Lavelle, K. R., and Polanin, J. R. (2013). “Developing the Leadership Capacity and Leader Efficacy of College Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Fields.” Journal of Leadership Studies, 7(3). DOI: 10.1002/jls.21292
Escaldelai, F. M. D., Escaldelai, L., and Bergamaschi, D. P. (2022). Systematic Review Support software system: Web-based solution for managing duplicates and screening eligible studies. Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia, 25, e220030. DOI: 10.1590/1980-549720220030
Forte-Celaya, M. R., Burgos-López, M. Y., Lara-Prieto, V., Ramírez-Figueroa, C., and Franco-Peñuelas, D. (2021). “Professional development support for women engineering faculty with Lean in Circles.” [Conference presentation]. 2021 World Engineering Education Forum/Global Engineering Deans Council, Madrid, Spain. DOI: 10.1109/WEEF/GEDC53299.2021.9657270
Grant, M. J. and Booth, A. (2009). “A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies.” Health Information and Libraries Journal, 26, 91–108, DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-1842.2009.00848.x
Hart, J. (2016). “Dissecting a gendered organization: Implications for career trajectories for mid-career faculty women in STEM.” The Journal of Higher Education, 87(5), 605-634. DOI: 10.1080/00221546.2016.11777416
Hodari, A. K., Ong, M., Ko, L. T., and Kachchaf, R. R. (2014). “New enactments of mentoring and activism: U.S. women of color in computing education and careers.” [Conference presentation]. Tenth Annual Conference on International Computing Education Research, New York. Association for Computing Machinery. 83-90. DOI: 10.1145/2632320.2632357
IDRC - International Development Research Centre. Latin American Open Data for Gender Equality Policies Focusing on Leadership in STEM. [link]
Johnson, R. S., Benjamin, C., Miksys, C., and Gartstein, M. (2022). “A pathway to systemic changes in STEM leadership: Increasing representation of women through the External Mentor Program.” Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering, 29. DOI: 10.1615/JWomenMinorScienEng.2022038588
Liévano-Latorre, L. F., Da Silva, R. A., Vieira, R. R. S.; Resende, F. M.; Ribeiro, B. R.; Borges, F. J. A.; Sales, L., and Loyola, R. (2020). “Pervasive gender bias in editorial boards of biodiversity conservation journals. Biological Conservation”, 251, 108767. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108767
Maciel, C., Guzman, I. R., Berardi, R. C. G., Caballero, B. B., Rodriguez-Rodriguez, N., Frigo, L., Salgado, L., Jimenez, E., Bim, S. A. and Tapia, P. C. (2023). Open data platform to promote gender equality policies in STEM”. In: Western Decision Sciences Institute (WDSI), Proceedings [...]. Portland, Oregon. [link]
Maciel, C., Guzman, I. R., Berardi, R. C. G., Rodriguez-Rodriguez, N., Frigo, L., Salgado, L; Frigo, L. B., Branisa, B., Jiménez, E. (2024). “An open data platform to advance gender equality in STEM in Latin America.” Communications of the ACM, 67(8), 90-92, [link]
McCullough, L. (2020). “Proportions of women in STEM leadership in the academy in the USA.” Education Sciences, 10(1), 1. DOI: 10.3390/educsci10010001
McGee, E., Main, J., Miles, M., and Cox, M. (2021). “An intersectional approach to investigating persistence among women of color tenure-track engineering faculty.” Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering, 27. DOI: 10.1615/JWomenMinorScienEng.2020035632
Melo, B., Pessoa, L., Rameh, I., and Brandão, S. (2023). Revisão Sistemática de Literatura (RSL) (livro eletrônico): um guia da teoria à prática. Ed. dos Autores. [link]
Okoli, C. (2019). “Guia para realizar uma revisão sistemática da literatura. Tradução de David Wesley Amado Duarte; Revisão técnica e introdução de João Mattar.” EAD em Foco, 9(1), DOI: 10.18264/eadf.v9i1.748
Rauch, C. F. and Behling, O. (1984). “Functionalism: Basis for an Alternate Approach to the Study of Leadership”. Leaders and Managers: International Perspectives on Managerial Behavior and Leadership, 45-62, DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-08-030943-9.50012-7
Rehbock, S. K., Knipfer, K., and Peus, C. (2021).” What Got You Here, Won't Help You There: Changing Requirements in the Pre-Versus the Post-tenure Career Stage in Academia.” Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 569281. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.569281
Rezk, M. R. A., Shafai, B., Piccinetti, L., Salem, N., Elbanna, S., Radwan, A., and Sakr, M. M. (2022). “Women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) “Egyptian case study”. Insights into Regional Development, 4(4), 52-62. DOI: 10.9770/IRD.2022.4.4(4)
Reznik, G., and Massarani, L. (2022). “Mapeamento e importância de projetos para equidade de gênero na educação em STEM.” Cadernos de Pesquisa, 52, e09179. [link]
Souza, R. and Wood Jr, T. (2022). “Múltiplas Lentes de Estudo e Abordagem da Liderança”. Revista de Administração de Empresas, 62(6), e2021–0392, DOI: 10.1590/S0034-759020220607x
Su, X., Johnson, J., and Bozeman, B. (2015). “Gender diversity strategy in academic departments: exploring organizational determinants”. Higher Education, 69, 839–858. DOI: 10.1007/s10734-014-9808-z
Towni, S. N., Arisha, A., Rahman, N. N., Rasul, I. I., Hossain, M., and Iftekhar, L. (2021). “Gender distribution in academic leadership: An exploratory study of top universities of Bangladesh” [Conference presentation]. 2021 World Engineering Education Forum/ Global Engineering Deans Council. Madrid, Spain. DOI: 10.1109/WEEF/GEDC53299.2021.9657169
Published
2025-07-20
How to Cite
PEREIRA, Leihge Roselle Rondon; MACIEL, Cristiano; GUZMAN, Indira Rita.
What Is Women’s Academic Leadership in STEM? A Conceptual Approach. In: WOMEN IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (WIT), 19. , 2025, Maceió/AL.
Anais [...].
Porto Alegre: Sociedade Brasileira de Computação,
2025
.
p. 106-117.
ISSN 2763-8626.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5753/wit.2025.8387.
