Does gender actually matter?

Abstract: This qualitative study thesis examines the significance of gender for school leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. The empirical material consists of semi-structured interviews from a sample of 14 mixed-gender principals of Swedish high schools. The transformational- and transactional leadership models were used as frameworks for grasping a better understanding of the principal's leadership behaviors in response to changes caused by COVID-19. The findings suggest that gender has had an impact on leadership behaviors, with women demonstrating higher levels of transformational leadership than their male counterparts (specifically in regard to the transformational leadership factors of individualized consideration and inspirational motivation). Female leaders were also found to be more relationship-oriented than men, whilst male principals were revealed to be more task-oriented than women. Finally, a discrepancy between the perception of effective leadership and actual leadership styles implemented was identified within the male sample. Through an analysis and in-depth discussion of the findings, this thesis helps raise awareness surrounding gender differences in leadership behaviors and contributes to the very crucial and highly contemporary discussion of gender-stereotypic norms in the sphere of organizational leadership.