Exploring the cultural dynamics of gendered leadership in Eswatini’s tertiary institutions

Gibson Makamure ORCID iD

Issue: Vol. 7 No.8 2026 Article 9 pp. 2301 – 2314
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2026789 Published online 30th September 2026

© 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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This research explored the cultural dynamics that impact gendered leadership in three Eswatini higher education institutions. The main objective was to explore how cultural norms impact the leadership experiences and approaches of both male and female leaders. Through focus groups and in-depth one-on-one interviews, the study involved 24 leaders (12 men and 12 women) who were purposively selected. The study used a qualitative research approach and a narrative inquiry design. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The results show that cultural norms and long-standing gender stereotypes have a big influence on leadership styles. While men are expected to be assertive and decisive, women are frequently under pressure to take a collaborative approach. Implementing educational reforms and mentorship programs aimed at challenging cultural norms and establishing an inclusive atmosphere that supports gender parity in leadership are among the recommendations made. This study adds to the broader discourse of women’s leadership in traditionally patriarchal settings.

Keywords: Gendered Leadership, cultural dynamics, mentorship, stereotypes, leadership styles, support networks.

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Dr Gibson Makamure is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of South Africa (UNISA), specialising in gender and social justice education, educational leadership, higher education, and gender-responsive pedagogy. He is an experienced researcher, lecturer, consultant, and postgraduate supervisor with extensive scholarly publication, research, teaching, and academic leadership experience. Email: makamg@unisa.ac.za. ORCID: https://orcid.org/ 0000-0001-7761-1588

Makamure, Gibson. “Exploring the cultural dynamics of Gendered Leadership in Eswatini’s tertiary institutions.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 7, no.8 (2026): 2301. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2026789

© 2026 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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