Negotiating Domestic and Professional Roles: Defense Mechanisms as Managerial Capital in Women’s Leadership of English Course Institution

Aldi Permana Putra

doi:10.32332/10.32332/jsga.v8i01.11589

Authors

Aldi Permana Putra Universitas Islam Negeri Jurai Siwo Lampung, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32332/10.32332/jsga.v8i01.11589

Keywords:

Women’s Leadership, Defense Mechanisms, Managerial Capital, Non-Formal Education, Leadership Resilience

Abstract

Women leaders in non-formal education institutions continue to face various challenges, including gender bias, work–family conflict, and stereotype threats that may affect their leadership effectiveness. This study aims to examine how defense mechanisms function not only as a means of individual psychological protection but also as managerial capital that supports successful women’s leadership in educational organizations. The study employed a case study approach at an English course institution in Metro City, Lampung. Data were collected through eight semi-structured interviews involving the leader, teachers, administrative staff, and senior students, complemented by participant observation and document analysis. The data were analyzed using a hybrid thematic analysis. The findings indicate that self-care practices (sublimation), family support (compensation), and religiously grounded meaning-making (rationalization) function not merely as personal coping responses but also as integrated managerial resources. These mechanisms strengthen leadership resilience, maintain organizational stability, and promote institutional development, as reflected in increased student enrollment and the achievement of a high accreditation rating.

[Pemimpin perempuan di lembaga pendidikan non-formal masih menghadapi berbagai tantangan, seperti bias gender, konflik antara peran keluarga dan pekerjaan, serta ancaman stereotip yang dapat memengaruhi efektivitas kepemimpinan mereka. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis bagaimana mekanisme pertahanan berfungsi tidak hanya sebagai sarana perlindungan psikologis individu, tetapi juga sebagai modal manajerial yang mendukung keberhasilan kepemimpinan perempuan dalam organisasi pendidikan. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan studi kasus di lembaga kursus bahasa Inggris di Kota Metro, Lampung. Data dikumpulkan melalui delapan wawancara semi-terstruktur yang melibatkan pemimpin, guru, staf administrasi, dan siswa senior, serta didukung oleh observasi partisipan dan analisis dokumen. Data dianalisis menggunakan analisis tematik hibrida. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa praktik perawatan diri (sublimasi), dukungan keluarga (kompensasi), dan pemaknaan berbasis religiusitas (rasionalisasi) berfungsi tidak sekadar sebagai respons coping personal, tetapi juga sebagai sumber daya manajerial yang terintegrasi. Mekanisme tersebut memperkuat resiliensi kepemimpinan, menjaga stabilitas organisasi, dan mendorong perkembangan Lembaga, dari peningkatan jumlah peserta didik dan capaian akreditas tinggi].

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