Ways of seeing women’s leadership in education Jill Berry and Kay Fuller Reflecting on our roles as insider researchers ‘We benefited from shared knowledge and understandings of women’s experiences, whether they were described by women or men in secondary school settings. The first author also shares knowledges and understandings of working in higher education; the second author of working in the independent sector and as an education consultant. However, as two white straight women without children and of similar ages, we do not share the experiences described by women of Black and Global Majority (BGM) heritages, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered or women who identify as non-binary, or mothers and younger women. We do not share the experiences of men working in education as straight or gay men, as men of BGM heritages, or fathers’. (Fuller and Berry 2019) ‘The advantages and disadvantages of such research and the risks of informant bias, reciprocity in interviews and research ethics dilemmas associated with insider research must be acknowledged’ (with reference to Mercer 2007 cited in Fuller and Berry 2019). Jill Berry • Teacher/leader for 30 years, and a headteacher for the last ten of these • Completed an EdD at the University of Nottingham on ‘The Transition to Headship’ after leaving full-time work • Conducted research on the challenges of headship and how heads can be supported, with UCL Institute of Education • Conducted research with Kay Fuller on the development of #WomenEd: an insider researcher • Leadership consultancy work for the past nine years Reflection • The use of a reflective log throughout my doctoral studies • The writing of blog posts – for the platform @staffrm and then, after the demise of @staffrm, via WordPress (since 2017): jillberry102.blog • The writing of diary entries since 1972, when I was 14 years old, until the present day (47 years) • Revisiting diary entries at ten year intervals: 20, 30 and 40 years ago currently rereading ‘this day in history’ from 1979, 1989 and 1999 1979, 1989 and 1999 Saturday 20th May, 1989 “I went to a Conference on ‘Women Teachers and Promotion’. If I hadn’t been successful in the interview on Wednesday I really don’t think I could have faced it, but as it was I enjoyed it. The facilitator actually wasn’t that impressive, but once we moved into groups and started talking, things improved dramatically. I met a girl I knew vaguely at College, and during the course of the day I felt I got to know quite a few of the women well. I must join a women’s group, I think. I want to pass on to others lessons I’ve learnt from the last two years, and I want to learn from them.” #WomenEd Involvement in #WomenEd from the outset, including the production of, and response to, my blog post, ‘Lost Leaders’ in 2015 (reproduced here on the #WomenEd blog in 2017): https://womenedblog.wordpress.com/2017/10/05/lost-leaders/ Speaking at #WomenEd events, making contacts and developing friendships among the #WomenEd community, men and women Research with Kay: interviews were “conversations with purpose” Contribution to the first #WomenEd book (2019) – my chapter ‘Applying for leadership positions – Get the job you dream of’ Kay Fuller - ‘7 up’ life grid 1962 1969 1976 1983 1990 2004 1997 0 to 56 in 9 pictures 2018 2011 ‘63 up’ 4 of 14 children filmed were girls “Give me a child until he is seven and I will give you the man (sic)” Jesuit motto based on a quotation by Francis Xavier (also Aristotle) ITV television programme - June 2019 Programmes made every 7 years since 1963 when the children were 7 years old Class experiment Gender & race feature too One interviewee told MA questions were sexist ‘7 Up’ life grid age year family, friends, wider society community birth 1962 Secure and loving nuclear & extended family Generations in area (father) Church-going w/c father factory mother hairdresser Post-war aspirations Beatles - fun pop songs (highly gendered) – ‘Bobby’s Girl’ released in 1962 relationship educational with education leadership & policy race relations gender relations Educ asps parents no quals Ext family inc teachers Father failed 11+; 2 aunts passed (1 got college education) 2 grt-grandmothers illiterate Race Discrimination Bill 1960 Petition against Racial Discrimination 1962 Race Relations Act 1965 1961 - Introduction of the contraceptive pill 1964 - Married Women's Property Act revision 7 1969 Favourite teacher - JC 14 1976 O levels started 21 1983 Graduated (English) 28 1990 Decided to become a teacher 35 1997 Head of English 42 2004 Deputy headteacher 49 2011 Initial teacher educator 56 2018 Associate professor Education Act 1962 mandated LEAs to fund first FT degree and provide maintenance Jamaica gained independence 1962 2nd wave feminism Betty Friedan (1963) References Fuller, K and Berry, J. (2019) #WomenEd: A movement for women leaders in education. Nottingham: University of Nottingham. https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/groups/crelm/documents/womenedreport.pdf (accessed 2 July 2019) Mercer, J. (2007) The challenges of insider research in educational institutions: wielding a double‐edged sword and resolving delicate dilemmas. Oxford Review of Education, 33:1, 1-17. Parry, O., Thomson, C. and Fowkes, G. (1999) Life Course Data Collection: Qualitative Interviewing using the Life Grid, Sociological Research Online, 4(2) http://socresonline.org.uk/4/2/parry.html (accessed 19 May 2017)