Female Teacher Identities and Leadership Aspirations in Neoliberal Times

In a neoliberal economic environment, people are seen as and required to be self-managing and entrepreneurial in regard to their career and work advancement. Where neoliberalism prioritises individual freedom, institutions aid the career advancement of individuals by providing a framework that creates and preserves such practices. What happens, then, when women are placed in a hierarchical and patriarchal schooling system that consistently privileges men over women in their careers and in positions of power? This paper analyses the leadership experiences and observations of women in boys' secondary schools as they negotiate leadership aspirations in male-centred environments while often faced with the reality that their inability to progress their careers has more to do with gender bias than ability. This work draws on interviews with 36 female teachers and leaders in six boys' secondary schools in an Australian city. Analysis of the interviews suggest that the women found the 'niche' of being 'caring' to position themselves differently to male counterparts. This identification did not give them access to leadership roles or change the attitude of the male leaders to include them in leadership. It did though allow them to see themselves as relevant and essential to the organisation to which they belonged and self- managing within the few options open to them in the workplace.