| Abstract This dissertation was a phenomenological qualitative research study that explored (a) perceptions of African American women in leadership within community agencies and (b) how their communication styles impact leadership success. Findings that emerged from the data highlighted the prevalence of challenges with social and racial constructs similar to those that support critical race theory as well as gender specific stereotypes of communication and behavior that permeate the premise of social role theory. Participants shared that African American women are culturally conditioned to represent themselves with more agentic communication than other women. As a result, African American women are often misunderstood and labeled in a negative manner. Additionally, African American women face challenges that stem from double standards of being female while operating in male stereotyped leadership positions. That is, women are expected to communicate and behave with stereotypical female attributes while working in positions that are stereotypically perceived as male oriented positions. Therefore, women have to strike a balance between their expected gender behavior and the expected gender behavior for the position they hold. These unrealistic expectations have caused breakdowns in communication and impact opportunities for promotion to executive level positions. |
