Abstract
Feminist creative leaders often advocate and support personal reflection, self-expression, passion, caring, and unique viewpoints (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990; Sternberg, 1999). Feminist leadership is discussed first through theory and secondly by an interview, both of which are described through the lens of creativity (O'Connor, 2010; Young & Skrla, 2012). The development of creative leaders is considered to engage the reader in many different possibilities and perspectives. Creative leadership is guided by inspiration and new achievements which significantly change the way the something is done (de la Harpe & Mason, 2014). The creative potential of each individual is valued in this leadership model. Conclusions in this chapter serve to prepare the next generation of creative leaders to be self-confident, enthusiastic, original thinkers.
TopBackground
Historical Feminist Ideology
Dr. Savneet Talwar, Board Certified Art Therapist, Associate Professor and previous chairperson of the School for the Art Institute of Chicago’s Graduate Art Therapy Program has presented research concerning feminist approaches to art therapy practice examining issues related to culture, identity, diversity, and feminist principles such as race, gender, and class.
At the 2015 American Art Therapy Association Conference held in Minneapolis, MN, Dr. Talwar presented implications of feminism within the field through a panel titled, Creating Spaces of Resistance: Third Wave Feminism, Social Justice and Art Therapy. Her session focused on the historical basis of feminist leadership and how values and ideology from each wave of feminism presents implications for the future directions of leadership practice (Talwar, personal communication, July 10, 2015).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Expressive Visual and Performance Arts: Experiences in the visual and performing arts facilitate imagination, active listening, awareness of the moment, meaning making, and unique solutions.
Creativity: A variety of creativity’s characteristics include intelligence, artistic skills, interpersonal/intrapersonal communication, and expertise/excellence in the field.
Creative Leadership: This approach to leadership integrates creativity through unique strengths of each team member and different perspectives in order to promote original outcomes in a supportive environment.
Feminist Creative Leadership: Female creative leaders who develop inspiration and creativity by providing direction, being sensitive to the needs of others, taking risks, and increasing sense of belonging for all individuals.
Feminist Leadership: Feminist leadership is considered relational, collaborative, and flexible within the culture of a particular organization.
Feminism: A feminist ethos emphasizes knowledge about the inequities and injustices in society including other forms of oppression.
Transformational Leadership: Four leadership characteristics are integrated: use of higher order thinking skills, valuing individualism, recognizing unique personalities, and inspiring motivation.