Leadership Behaviour Among Tribal Women: A Critical Review of Literature

Abstract

Leadership behaviour has been studied across disciplines like psychology, sociology, anthropology, development studies and has acquired prominence due to its significant role in social transformation, community development and collective decision-making. Leadership has been researched to a considerable extent in terms of organizational and political dynamics, whereas leadership among tribal women remains a less explored paradigm. Research on leadership has been informed by theoretical constructs emanating from western organizational theories which may not be entirely relevant to unraveling indigenous or tribal leadership dynamics. Tribal women leaders are characterized by their unique status in a given socio-cultural context that is influenced by various factors, such as gender, ethnicity, community, participation and related socio-economic determinants. Leadership among tribal women needs to be examined by looking at an eclectic mix of theoretical paradigms that can address the multi-faceted dimensions of leadership behaviour. This review seeks to explore leadership theories, indigenous leadership, psychological aspects of leadership behaviour, leadership identity, gender and leadership, and tribal women leadership studies to identify gaps in scholarship and emphasize relevant paradigms for examining tribal women leadership in India.