Faculty of Education - Theses

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Aspects of the under-representation of women in administrative positions in secondary schools in Victoria, as related to a comparison of male and female career aspirations

Sarros, Anne Marie ( 1983)

A questionnaire survey methodology was used to investigate the reasons pertaining to the under-representation of women in educational administration. The particular aspect focused upon, was a comparison of the aspirations of male and female teachers. Ninety teachers were surveyed, 46 male, and 44 female assistant class teachers from four regional high schools in the Geelong City area. The findings indicated that male teachers have higher ultimate professional aspirations than female teachers, and this is evident in their more active seeking of promotion. There were similarities in male and female responses over a number of factors related to perceived reasons for teaching, and those reasons which motivate promotion seeking. Of the factors investigated as deterrents for teachers seeking promotion, there was concurrence over the range of factors perceived as most important and least important but the factor related to lack of interest in promotion was particularly significant for female teachers. It was concluded that female lack of interest in promotion and career advancement stems largely from the socialization process and sex-role stereotyping of the female role which neither encourages nor provides incentive for females to aspire to career success to the same extent as males.