An Empirical Survey on Leading Gender-Equal Groups in Japan : A Case of Elementary and Junior-High Principals

考虑到女性在所有公司和各级的参与是形成性别平等社会的必要条件，我们调查了在学校晋升到行政职位的女性，特别是女校长。调查问卷于2003年4月至11月期间，以邮寄方式向关东地区及周边地区的966名小学女校长和418名初中校长发送。从这些调查中，收集了372名小学校长和182名初中校长的数据。此外，2004年2月和3月，我们还对5名小学校长和5名初中校长进行了访谈。数据分析得出的主要结果如下：1)教育事业、人际关系、职业生涯和家庭生活状况是影响晋升到领先地位的最显著因素。2)由于学校的日常行政工作需要快速决策，这些人通常具有较强的参与能力，如沟通能力，他们往往对事务的本质有深刻的洞察力，对现实情况有敏锐的认识。这些人不仅在他们自己的学校而且在更广泛的社区中产生积极的影响。3)随着非传统性别意识的女性成为校长，学校的性别文化也在发生变化，这有利于性别平等社会的形成。

With the consideration that the participation of women at all corporate and tiers is mandatory for the formation of a gender equal society, we surveyed women who have advanced to administrative positions in schools, specifically female principals.Questionnaires were sent by mail to 966 female principals of elementary schools in and around the Kanto area, and to 418 junior high principals all over Japan during the time span between April and November, 2003. From these surveys, data was collected from 372 elementary and 182 Junior high principals. In addition, 5 elementary and 5 junior high principals were personally interviewed during February and March in 2004. The main results derived from the data analysis are the following :1)The factors that most prominently influenced the advancement to that leading position are educational careers, human relations, professional careers and family life situations.2)As the everyday administrative tasks in schools demand prompt decision-making, these individuals generally excel in participatory abilities such as communication skills, and they often possess a profound insight into the essence of affairs, and a perceptive awareness to realistic situations. These individuals provide positive influences not only in their own schools but also in the wider communities.3)As women with non-traditional gender consciousness have become principals, the gender culture in schools is also being changed, which is contributing to the formation toward a gender equal society.