Mpho Gilika

Lived Experiences of Batswana women in National Leadership Positions Mpho Gilika

To explore and understand experiences of Batswana women in national leadership positions, this qualitative phenomenological study used face to face individual interviews to collect data. To analyze the data, thematic, narrative, and metaphoric analysis was triangulated. The research question "what are experiences of Batswana women occupying national leadership positions" was answered, providing 5 themes. This study found that socialization and roadblocks such as gendered role expectations, cultural stereotypical attitudes, family responsibilities, contributed to low representation of women in Botswana's position of power and decision making. Literature showed women's issues, and gender awareness have been a focus of both government and social organizations for many years, however more still need to be done to bring changes necessary for women's development and empowerment. This research adds to knowledge about Batswana women's experiences while in national leadership; obstacles they encounter when trying to join leadership and even when in leadership, their motives to join leadership, and strategies that enabled successes while in such positions.