†I’m a female mayor. But someday, maybe I’ll just be a mayor.†: - en kvalitativ studie av kvinnliga borgmästares ledarskapsutmaningar i ett urval afrikanska länder.

This study delves into a captivating yet often overlooked research area - the leadership challenges faced by female mayors across Africa, who make up just 5% of mayors worldwide. It specifically aims to explore the challenges that female African mayors encounter in their leadership roles as women. As current and past research primarily examines Western contexts, this study seeks to broaden our understanding of leadership by investigating African contexts. Two main questions are at the forefront: 1.    What are the conditions like for female mayors after they have been elected as the highest leaders of their respective municipalities in a selection of African developing countries? 2.    What leadership challenges do they face from a gender perspective? The present study employs a qualitative, abductive, and hermeneutic (interpretative) approach. Seven African female mayors who participated in the "Women’s Political Leadership Programme" are interviewed. Thematic analysis is used as the processing method. Two overarching themes emerge: "Conditions" and "Constraints". Under "Conditions", discussions revolve around cultural and religious expectations, institutional norms and hierarchies, leadership role models and support systems, as well as acceptance from both men and women. "Constraints" encompass gender-stereotypical perceptions of women and leadership, tribalism, as well as violence and harassment. These themes shed light on the complex circumstances that shape the leadership of female African mayors. Their exercise of leadership is influenced by a combination of supportive and hindering factors. Cultural and religious expectations, institutional norms, and threats of violence pose barriers, while positive expectations and acceptance promote their success. The study provides insights into a seldom-explored context and highlights the complex nature of the challenges and opportunities faced by female African mayors in their leadership roles. ; Denna studie syftar till att utforska de utmaningar som ...