Gender leadership in Cape Coast Municipality primary schools

Leadership literature has over the years, included assertions about differences between female and male leadership. Although no definitive conclusion has been reached concerning one gender being more effective at leadership than another, female and male leadership characteristics have been proffered. The literature posits that females are more caring, collaborative and cooperative, while males are more aggressive, competitive and controlling. This research was designed to: (a) examine female and male headteachers' leadership practices on six dimensions, (b) determine the extent to which female and male headteachers demonstrate leadership in public primary schools, and (c) reveal any discernible differences between female and male headteachers' leadership. Embracing the quantitative research paradigm, a survey was utilized to collect data. Six null hypotheses were tested. The independent t-test was used to determine whether significant difference existed between female and male headteachers' leadership practices. The Bonferroni procedure and the Welch t- test were also applied. No evidence was found supporting differences between female and male headteachers' leadership practices. That no differences were found between female and male headteachers' leadership practices erodes traditional Ghanaian belief that leadership is a male domain. Research results should serve to caution Ghana's educational leaders who select headteachers assuming that gender has a bearing on leadership effectiveness.