Female leadership framework: developing adolescent girls as future women leaders through the formation of a Female Leadership Identity

This article proposes a Female Leadership Framework for the formation of Female Leadership Identity in order to aid the development of adolescent girls as future women leaders. In devising this framework, numerous qualitative studies have been conducted using a variety of data collection methods. Firstly, school documents from Australian and New Zealand girls' schools were analysed, followed by the electronic survey of educational staff from these same regions. Data were then collected through the use of student focus groups, each group comprised female students from across Australia, with one school located in South Africa. Finally, interviews with women leaders from both Australia and the United Kingdom were carried out. From a synthesis of these findings and current literature, a Female Leadership Framework has been developed. It is recommended that this framework and associated strategies be used in order to holistically prepare girls for the challenges that they may face in their acquisition of leadership skills and leadership positions in their adult life. [Author abstract]