Paper short abstract:

In this discussion, we are looking at the lived experiences of female students who have been marginalized in leadership and how university management is putting in efforts to develop effective culture which will help institutions in Ghana in order to help change the status quo.

Paper long abstract:

The subject of female student leadership has become a topical issue in most tertiary institutions in Ghana. However, the phenomenon has been of little concern to researchers. While most male students are championing male student leadership, majority of the female students are also supporting the course because of various reasons discussed in the study. Despite the efforts being put in by the Centre for gender, research, advocacy and documentation (CEGRAD) and other groups on various campuses, there are still large disparities even at the level of assistant positions in student leadership. The glass ceiling is still a bone to contend with when it comes to female student leadership in the University of Cape Coast. The study therefore sought to explore the extent to which female students aspiring for leadership have been neglected and campaigned against and the efforts of University management to help change the situation. This study was approached from the interpretivist paradigm using the lived experiences of twenty female students and ten members of the University management committee. Participants were selected purposively and by snowballing. The participants were interviewed by using a semi-structured interview guide. The participants discussed their experiences and perspectives on female student leadership, campaign encounters as well as strategies adopted to safeguard female leadership and eliminate sexism in leadership in the University. A thematic analysis found that the arguments about low representation of females in student’s leadership are stemming from socialization, marginalisation and the patriarchal system of leadership in Ghana.