Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of African-American women, school-site administrators of the personal sacrifices endured while achieving their positions of leadership and to identify their perceptions of how these sacrifices have impacted their lives and lives of their families (spouses and children). This was a qualitative, research case study design used to determine the perceptions of ten African-American women administrators, in four urban school districts in southern California, of the personal sacrifices endured while performing their positions of leadership, and how these sacrifices have impacted specific areas of their lives. The personal sacrifices described by the ten African-American women, school-site administrators unraveled a heartbreaking phenomenon that has adverse affects on themselves and their families. Their perceptions of personal sacrifices they've endured while serving as school site administrators and their perceptions of how these sacrifices affect their families have been classified in two major areas: time and family. In conclusion, "African-American women often have difficulty balancing expectations and demands attached to their symbolic roles and those that come with their professional status and responsibilities" (Rusher 1996, 2). African-American women today experience the kind of tension that men have long experienced, with society's slow acceptance of them as equal partners in the workplace. Although they combine a workload that equals that of their male counterparts, and the responsibility of maintaining the home and caring for the children, African-American women that serve as school site administrators enjoy the challenge. Recommendations for action are: (1) African-American women professionals need to maintain their traditional family values and traditions. Utilizing an efficient time-management guide would create more time to dedicate to family. (2) The traditional roles of African-American women were wife, mother, marketplace vendor, and, in many instances, community decision-maker. The roles remain intact; however African-American women need to establish local mentor programs and support groups to encourage and support the new young African-American women administrators with families as in traditional times. (3) Establish university programs to prepare African-American both women and men, for special issues they face as administrators.