CHAPTER 11: Collaborative Feminism at Work: Networking for Success

Developing successful careers in universities for women often means negotiating conflicts that arise due to women’s minority status. The relationships that women faculty form with other women in the academy may be of particular importance to identity construction, developing a research agenda and effective research strategies, and overcoming feelings of isolation. The purpose of this project was to identify narratives of women who have experienced success in the academy in departments of educational leadership through collaborative relationships with other women faculty. Individual standpoints were collected of the lived experiences of these women. Themes were developed during data analysis unique to this particular group of women and included the following: double jeopardy—being a woman and identifying as a feminist; empowerment through knowledge; social webbing; drawbacks; and paying it forward through activism.