Mean girls club : a multiple case study exploring perceptions of incivility among female leaders in academic healthcare.

Workplace incivility leads to pervasive challenges in academic healthcare organizations, particularly for female leaders who often encounter barriers to professional growth and leadership development. In this multiple-case study, I explored how five female leaders in various academic healthcare institutions describe the relationship between reciprocal social factors (e.g., personal, behavioral, environmental), workplace incivility, and their approach to leadership. I gathered insights into participants’ social and professional backgrounds, behaviors that either perpetuated or disrupted incivility, and the institutional environments in which these experiences occurred through a leadership questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. I employed Bandura’s (1995) social cognitive theory as the theoretical framework for the study to understand the personal, behavioral, and environmental factors involved. I collected data by administering a leadership questionnaire and conducting one-on-one interviews with open-ended questions, allowing participants to describe their experiences in detail. I applied Creswell and Poth’s (2018) data analysis spiral and cross-case analytical techniques, to identify common themes across the cases. Key findings revealed discrepancies between the values and policies espoused by organizations and the actual experiences of participants, eroding trust, and security within the workplace. Inconsistent practices, such as a lack of transparency and perceptions of favoritism, were negatively related to team morale and cohesion. Relational mentorship emerged as a positive factor that helped participants adapt their leadership styles and navigate the complexities of incivility. Additionally, participants frequently reported exclusionary behaviors and challenges with work-life balance as stressors, exacerbating the issues related to workplace incivility and reducing job satisfaction. This study highlighted the complex interplay between individual, interpersonal, and institutional factors in the experiences of workplace incivility among female leaders. The findings suggest that organizations can implement equitable professional development, mentorship programs, and inclusive leadership initiatives to create environments where female leaders can excel without facing workplace incivility or barriers to career advancement. Furthermore, organizations can regularly evaluate these interventions to ensure they meet the evolving needs of female leaders, promoting long-term organizational change and fostering a more inclusive work culture.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ed.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Grantor

Baylor University.

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Panicker, Anitha Cherian, 1978-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Meyer, Melanie S.

• Academic healthcare institutions.
• Multiple case study.
• Leadership dynamics.
• Organizational practices.
• Qualitative.
• Social cognitive theory.
• Workplace incivility.

Statement dc:rights

• Baylor University works are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact libraryquestions@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2104/13806

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:baylor-ir.tdl.org:2104/13806