It is no secret that women and those that identify as women have it hard in higher education. More women than men hold doctoral degrees. More women than men are currently in the faculty ranks. However, when a critical eye is turned toward upper leadership positions in higher education, women fall behind. Some theories exist as to why this disparity exists, but this qualitative research study poses a wholly new, original, and undiscovered one. Based on Kenji Yoshino's 2006 work, "Covering: The Hidden Assault on our Civil Rights", the aim of this study is to discover if women leaders in higher education face Covering demands and pressures. Covering is defined as the hiding, obscuring, or suppressing of aspects of ourselves that we feel are distasteful or shameful in order to fit in with the organization at large. For this study, I interviewed 16 women leaders in higher education over a period of 2 months in January and February of 2022. The study utilized a narrative, oral history methodology, and critical feminist theory (CFT) as well as the Covering phenomenon itself as the theoretical frameworks for the study. I found that women had experienced Covering in all its forms and share some of the stories and experiences from the participants in their own words. Further, with the help of the participants, I investigate what external and internal factors contribute to Covering as well as what women leaders can do to create an environment where women can be their authentic selves and eliminate Covering demands and pressures in the future. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]