Women in Religious Leadership, Experiences of

This entry highlights the experiences of women in religious leadership. It begins with an overview of the history of women in religious leadership, focusing on the effects of religiously based gender roles. Women’s barriers to leadership are also discussed, with particular attention to their transition from seminaries and training institutions to service in local congregations. Finally, this entry examines some of the challenging and beneficial aspects of being a female religious leader, including the effects that the role has on one’s mental health and the unique opportunities afforded to women who pursue leadership roles in this context.