Exploring the Glass Cliff Experiences of Sangguniang Kabataan Women Leaders during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Proponent/s Name/s (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)

• Jellyn R. Alindogan, De La Salle University, ManilaFollow
• Riza Mae S. Fernandez, De La Salle University, ManilaFollow
• Dana Kaitlyn D. Landicho, De La Salle University, ManilaFollow
• Belle Beatriex' M. Alemania, De La Salle University, ManilaFollow

Document Types

Paper Presentation

Research Theme (for Paper Presentation and Poster Presentation submissions only)

Gender, Human Development, and the Individual (GHI)

School Name

De La Salle University Senior High School

Track or Strand

Humanities and Social Science (HUMSS)

Research Advisor (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)

Belle Beatriex’ M. Alemania

Start Date

23-6-2026 3:30 PM

End Date

23-6-2026 5:00 PM

Zoom Link/ Room Assignment

DLSU Manila Campus (In-person) - Don Enrique T. Yuchengco Hall - Y306

Abstract/Executive Summary

Despite the increasing presence of women in political leadership, equitable leadership conditions remain far from guaranteed. In many cases, women are appointed to leadership roles during periods of instability, a phenomenon described as the glass cliff. While this concept has been widely explored in corporate settings, limited research examines how it manifests within youth governance, particularly in the Philippine context. This study explores the experiences of female Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officers appointed during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on how gendered expectations, crisis conditions, and institutional constraints shaped their leadership experiences. Using a multiple case study design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with three female SK officers who served as secretaries or treasurers during the pandemic. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis to identify patterns across their unique experiences. Findings reveal that key informants often assumed leadership roles through sudden or substituted appointments caused by vacancies, resignations, or organizational instability. Within the gendered structures of the SK, women were frequently assigned to positions that required trust and financial responsibility, while elected leadership roles remained male-dominated. The key informants described intersecting crises arising from the pandemic, including resource constraints, balancing SK duties, facing public scrutiny, and health risks associated with frontline community work. Despite these challenges, the key informants developed adaptive leadership strategies grounded in collective decision-making, collaboration, and community engagement. Nevertheless, the findings highlight how glass cliff leadership positions, while precarious, can also become transformative spaces for young women to assert competence, redefine leadership expectations, and strengthen youth participation in local governance.

Keywords

COVID-19, gendered power relations, glass cliff, Sangguniang Kabataan, systematic thematic analysis

Initial Consent for Publication

yes

Statement of Originality

yes