Leadership, Intersectionality, and Feminism: Radical-Relational Perspectives

Abstract

This essay takes a radical-relational perspective on systemic, institutional, and individual leadership. It identifies the function of intersectionality and feminism in decoding normative mindsets in leadership. Then, using the ideas of power, authority, and responsibility, the author describes the relational psychodynamics between the powerful and the vulnerable. Two examples are offered to illustrate how these dynamics operate. The first describes mental health provision in the United Kingdom, and the second is a personal example from the author’s experiences as a young teacher.

Keywords:

• Leadership
• feminism
• intersectionality
• radical-relational
• power
• authority
• responsibility
• oppression
• empowerment
• imagination

Disclosure Statement

The author declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

The author received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Notes on contributors

Karen Minikin

Karen Minikin, MSc (TA Psych), BA (Hons) Counselling, Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst (psychotherapy), Certified Transactional Analyst (psychotherapy), (she/her) currently works in West Somerset and is Program Leader for TA training at Iron Mill College in Exeter. She is a member of the leadership advisory team of the Black and Asian Therapy Network (BAATN) and a coeditor for the Transactional Analysis Journal and Psychotherapy and Politics International. Karen can be reached at 11 Fore St., Wellington, Somerset, TA22 9NE, United Kingdom; email: [email protected].