Abstract

In recent decades, female school principals have received more attention in research on the field of professional identity and educational leadership. Being a woman in a traditionally masculine set-up, such as school management, is sometimes a peculiar challenge. Several studies point to personal and professional barriers in the construction of a professional leadership identity in female leaders. Life histories are a privileged approach for understanding the construction of these professional identities. This study is part of a larger research project called the International Successful School Principalship Project (ISSPP). The aim of this study is to describe the qualitative methodological process followed to study Marta’s life history, a female principal who has led in challenging contexts. This article has a didactic character that provides guidance to orientate research on life histories. Through this work, our aim is to illustrate the potential of this methodology for studying the identity construction of female school leaders. For this purpose, we will present the process of collecting information through field diaries and in-depth biographical interviews, as well as the process of analysis, characterized by cascades of reflective deepening, discourse analysis based on the principles of grounded theory, and a professional “biogram.” Finally, the strengths, constraints, and limitations of this approach are described, along with recommended future lines of research.