Forms, Practices and Ramifications of Abusive Supervision in Universities: A Social Justice Scrutiny

Abstract

Universities have experienced a phenomenal increase in the incidences of abusive supervision. The practices of abuse in leadership are manifested in different forms and shapes. These unjust and unfair practices are perpetuated in different divisions and sections of the university leadership and are counterproductive. The overarching purpose of this study is to scrutinize the different kinds of abusive supervision practices and their ramifications. This examination takes the form of the extensive and intensive analysis and synthesis of extant and apposite authoritative literature. In addition, to strengthen the scientific rigor and soundness of this examination, I deploy the three-dimensional social justice theory of Nancy Fraser as a framework. This study is significant in that it provides epistemological insights into abusive supervision in universities. The findings confirm scholarly evidence of the prevalence of acts of abuse in various forms such as sexual harassment, exclusionary decision-making practices, designed and strategic isolation of dissenting voices, and selective promotional practices.

Keywords

• abusive supervision
• universities
• recognition
• representation
• social justice