There is not much of evidence of the
heads giving any special support for
women in terms of career
development.
There was not much of evidence of the
heads giving any special support for
women in terms of career
development.
Work/life balance 1990s
There were difficulties for work/life
balance for both male and female
heads. However, the lives of the
women were more deeply affected. 96
per cent of the men are married and
94 per cent have a child or children.
67 per cent of the women were
married and 53 per cent had a child or
children. Thirteen per cent of women
were divorced or separated but only
one or two per cent of men.
There were a number of differences
between the older and younger
women (nearly all were between 40
and 60). The most important was that
the younger women (40 - 50) were
significantly less likely to have a child.
The women headteachers were often
responsible for the majority of
domestic work in their households, this
was not true for the male
headteachers. The women heads
tended to be in dual career
households and the male
headteachers to be in households
where their wife or partner took overall
responsibility for the running of the
home and the care of children.
Leadership style 1990s
The perceptions of both women and
men headteachers were that there is a
stereotypical if outdated norm of
authoritarian leadership held by
governors and parents, that endorses
masculinity and therefore male
leaders.
Contrary to masculine and feminine
stereotypes, the self-perceptions of
both men and women headteachers
were similar in relation to their
Work/life balance 2004
There are difficulties for work/life
balance for both male and female
heads. However, the lives of the
women are more deeply affected. 96
per cent of the men are married and
90 per cent have a child or children.
78 per cent of the women are married
and 63 per cent have a child or
children. Eleven per cent of women
are divorced or separated but only
three per cent of men.
There are a number of differences
between the age-groups of women
(nearly all are between 40 and 60).
The most important is that the middle
group (45 - 55) are significantly less
likely to have a child. However, the
dip in child-bearing of younger women
in the 1990s was not the start of a
trend.
The women headteachers are slightly
less often responsible for the majority
of domestic work in their households.
The male headteachers are rarely
responsible. The women heads tend
to be in dual career households and
the male headteachers to be in
households where their wife or partner
takes overall responsibility for the
running of the home and the care of
children.
Leadership style 2004
The perceptions of both women and
men headteachers are that there is a
stereotypical norm of masculine
leadership held by governors and
parents, that means that men are often
preferred as headteachers.
Contrary to masculine and feminine
stereotypes, the self-perceptions of
both men and women headteachers
are similar in relation to their
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