An investigation of aspirations and attitudes of selected women teachers in White government secondary schools in Natal with reference to promotional hierarchies and opportunities.

Abstract

Data supplied by the Natal Education Department indicated that women are unequally represented in the promotional hierarchies in schools. While 78 percent of the incumbents in post level one positions are women, only 16,3 percent of post level six positions are held by women. From a review of selected literature a list of possible barriers to the advancement of women was drawn up. These barriers fell into two broad categories - internal barriers, relating to psychological factors; and external barriers, which related to institutional, societal and organizational structures. A questionnaire was designed to educe some conclusions regarding the aspirations of selected women teachers and their perceptions regarding possible barriers to the advancement of women educators. \ The most commonly cited obstacle was found to be a concern to prevent role overload, which could result from attempting to fulfil simultaneously the demands of family and career. The second most frequently mentioned barrier related to the structure of the educational organization. Many respondents perceived women teachers as avoiding vertical career movement as it decreased their contact with the pupils. Many respondents appeared to have internalized the socletal norms concerning the position and role of women as they could forsee no obstacles to their reaching their promotional potential, apart from a personal choice to limit their horizons.