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Resisting sexisms, aggression, and burnout in academic leadership: Surviving in the gendered managerial academy

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  • Kathryn Haynes

Abstract

How is it possible to survive as a woman senior leader in the gendered managerial academy? In this autoethnographical article, I illustrate the lived reality, insecurity, and struggle of academic leadership. Drawing from three vignettes, I discuss decision‐making processes, blatant sexist aggressions, and the problematic negation of affect and personal life. Their critical contribution is to expose the consequences of gendered managerialism in the neo‐liberal academy and the false promise of ‘leadership’, in which women continue to experience gender challenges, sexism, and the risk of burnout in their everyday experiences. However, I also show how it is possible to counter the detrimental effects of gendered managerialism through four forms of resistance: resistance through embodied affective authenticity; resistance through solidarities, and social relations with others; resistance through feminist activism; and resistance by stepping back.

Suggested Citation

  • Kathryn Haynes, 2024. "Resisting sexisms, aggression, and burnout in academic leadership: Surviving in the gendered managerial academy," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2286-2302, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:gender:v:31:y:2024:i:5:p:2286-2302
    DOI: 10.1111/gwao.13137
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. María José Rodríguez‐Jaume & María Concepción Torres Díaz & Carmen Carretón‐Ballester & Diana Gil‐González, 2025. "Underrepresentation of Women in Universities: Seeking Answers in the Bedrooms of Women Academics," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(4), pages 1499-1510, July.
    3. Suzy D’Enbeau & Astrid Villamil, 2026. "Love, Loss, and Rebirth: A Duoethnography of Career Transition in Neoliberal Academia," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 656-668, March.
    4. Vera-Colina, Mary Analí & Casa Nova, Silvia Pereira de Castro & Lima, João Paulo Resende de & Vendramin, Elisabeth de Oliveira, 2025. "Counter-pedagogies of cruelty: Overcoming marginalization in Colombian accounting academia through feminist solidarity," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    5. Helen Hooper, 2026. "An Evaluation of the Gender Inclusivity of UK Senior Academic Job Advertisements," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 1179-1195, July.

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