University of Sussex
Browse
BSJEpaper Feb 2020 REF.pdf (245.44 kB)

Gender in the neoliberalised global academy: the affective economy of women and leadership in South Asia

Download (245.44 kB)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 22:40 authored by Louise Morley, Barbara CrossouardBarbara Crossouard
As higher education (HE) institutions globally become increasingly performative, competitive and corporatised in response to neoliberal rationalities, the exigencies of HE leadership are being realigned to accommodate its value system. This article draws on recent British Council-funded research, including 30 semi-structured interviews, to explore women’s engagement with leadership in HE in South Asia. A potent affective economy was discovered. Leadership was associated with affects such as competitiveness, aggression, impropriety, stress and anxiety, in ways that were intensi?ed by highly patriarchal and corporatised HE cultures. Indeed, its dif?culties and toxicities meant that leadership was rejected or resisted as an object of desire by many women. We illuminate how different forms of competition contribute to the affective economy of HE leadership. The research also raises wider questions about the possibilities of disrupting dominant neoliberal constructions of HE if those who question such values are excluded (or self-exclude) from leadership positions.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

British Journal of Sociology of Education

ISSN

0142-5692

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Issue

1

Volume

37

Page range

149-168

Department affiliated with

  • Social Work and Social Care Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2015-10-06

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2017-06-24

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2015-10-06

Usage metrics

    University of Sussex (Publications)

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC