Leadership for social transformation: Some ideas and questions on institutions and feminist leadership

Abstract

This article affirms the importance of changing the rules, not playing by them, if we are to transform institutions so that they reflect and promote gender equality. It describes how institutions block efforts to promote gender equality, and suggests that recent efforts to 'professionalise' NGOs have exacerbated this tendency. However, NGOs are also currently concerned with 'organisational learning', and this may offer them a 'third way' which combines professionalisation with feminist ideals, including devolution of power. The article finishes with a discussion of the kind of leadership required to challenge institutional inequality, and suggests directions for learning.