Women, power, and anger: A phenomenological investigation of female mayors

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: The following is a phenomenological study of the role anger in women's lives. Though much research on women's anger explores the pathological side of anger and attempts to control the emotion, this research takes a positive approach to the emotion seeing it as a motivator for change and status enhancement. The researcher interviewed six female mayors from a Midwestern state about their experience and expression of anger while in public and private settings.

Findings and Conclusions: The study participants expressed discomfort with anger and its expression. Because the women perceived that they did not have as much power as their councils, women in this study rarely expressed their anger in public while in their role as mayors. The women described containment of anger while in public, holding their anger until later when they could utilize social supports or cathartic release. In private, the participants in the study indicated use of anger with family or co-workers. The current research contributes to the growing literature concerning women�s anger experience and expression by examining the role of anger in women who have power and status in their communities.