Primary Lifelines: Friendship Groups of Women in Higher Education

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dc.contributor.authorSack, Kathryn Wilkinsonen
dc.contributor.committeechairCreamer, Donald G.en
dc.contributor.committeecochairBlieszner, Rosemaryen
dc.contributor.committeememberGetz, Hilda M.en
dc.contributor.committeememberCreamer, Elizabeth G.en
dc.contributor.committeememberHirt, Joan B.en
dc.contributor.departmentEducational Leadership and Policy Studiesen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:07:46Zen
dc.date.adate2001-03-06en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:07:46Zen
dc.date.issued2001-01-30en
dc.date.rdate2002-03-06en
dc.date.sdate2001-02-24en
dc.description.abstractA qualitative study of women in seven informal friendship groups identified the cognitive, affective, and behavioral processes utilized to support women working in higher education and traced the movement of each group through the friendship phases of formation, maintenance, and dissolution. Phenomenological interviews were conducted with 36 women friendship group members in colleges and universities with different Carnegie classifications throughout the country. Case data were transcribed and analyzed using constant comparison with the aid of qualitative research software QSR NUDIST™ and NVIVO™. Findings of the study encompass three major areas: (1) results highlighted the influences of context on development of friendship groups at the personal, network, community, and societal levels; (2) the processes which demonstrate trust at cognitive, affective, and behavioral levels of group interaction; and (3) the major role that friendship groups play in providing psychological support, affirmation, and instrumental aid for some women entering academe in professional roles and (4) showed how friendship group phases affect development of cohesive groups through factors such as constant renewal and group interaction style. The continued involvement of women in informal friendship groups depended upon the intersection of context, group cohesiveness, and changing expectations of members as individuals and groups moved through phases of group development from formation to maintenance and possible dissolution. The findings of this study challenge higher education to move toward significant changes in policies regarding hiring and retention all employees, especially women and minorities. Issues of community and context must be addressed in order to retain and support newly hired faculty and staff. Varying forms of support must be initiated institutionally to provide opportunities for productive career development of employees. Recommendations for further study include further inquiry into the impact of context on the development of women's friendships, friendships as a factor of support for retention of women staff and faculty, factors affecting generativity (constant renewal) in friendship groups over time, and the effects of race, class, and confrontational style on friendship group cohesion.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.identifier.otheretd-02242001-202119en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-02242001-202119/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/26297en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartETD.pdfen
dc.relation.haspartETD.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectWomenen
dc.subjectsupporten
dc.subjectEducation, Higheren
dc.subjectnetworksen
dc.subjectfriendshipen
dc.titlePrimary Lifelines: Friendship Groups of Women in Higher Educationen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineEducational Leadership and Policy Studiesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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