Gender and headship in the twenty-first century



Comments on appearance

Women secondary heads reported interviewers and others making comments on the
appearance of women. This is not the experience of men heads, although one or
two did reflect on the advantage that they have in being over six foot and burly. A
woman primary head in her early 40s mentioned: ‘I was once told by a male
colleague who was unsuccessful in getting the deputy headship to which I was
appointed that my legs were the right shape'. Whilst another woman primary head
being interviewed by an all-male panel was told: ‘that I showed stress because my
legs were wrapped round not just crossed once', she went on to say: 'happily my legs
are slim enough to do this!' A woman primary head in her early 40s remembered: 'at
interview - governors commenting - oh good, it’s the one with the legs.' Women
secondary heads reported feedback on unsuccessful interviews which included
comments about too much gold jewellery, nail varnish, the colour of their outfit and
comments about difficulties related to keeping discipline and being small in stature.

Primary school issues

Although women in primary schools may experience less sexism than their
counterparts in the secondary sector, they are aware of a particular bias that favours
men applying for headship in primary schools. A women primary head in her early
40s commented that in her experience: 'female applicants had to have had junior
experience, but not one male applicant has had to have infant teaching experience.'

However, some male heads in the primary sector do comment on discrimination that
they face in working with young children, with one male primary head in his late 30s
saying that: 'as an early years specialist I have found it very difficult to gain my first
appointment teaching infants.' Another man in the same age group stated that:
'sometimes people are suspicious of male primary teachers in infant early years'.

The fact that men are preferred for some primary headships is well reported, and
some men experience a backlash from this. One man in his late 30s commented on
allegations that: 'I gained promotion because I was a man, not because of my skills'.
Men sometimes do feel disadvantaged in applying for primary posts. An older man
stated that at his interview for headship he was faced with: '”how can a man cope
with ...” type of questions (seriously)'. A man in his early 40s said that: 'I believe that
one post I went for was given to a woman on the advice of a pro-woman LEA officer.'

These views are balanced by men primary heads who admit that they have the
advantage. One stating that: 'As a man teacher in a primary school I was 'chased'
professionally by female heads,' [who wanted to recruit him to their staff].

The membership of the interview panel

The role of the interview panel is key in appointment and the perceptions and
memories of the heads are that men still predominate in this role, particularly in the
secondary sector, where the average ratio is reported by women secondary heads as
6.5 men to 3.5 women on the interview panel and men heads recalling almost the
same: 6 men to 4 women. Primary school panels are recalled as being roughly
equal (but still a slight balance in favour of men) and special school panels as 5 men
to 4.5 women. If selection panels are at all tempted to appoint in their own image,
the membership has important implications for potential discrimination.



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