| Abstract: | Despite the almost equitable proportion of females and males teaching physical education in government secondary schools in Western Australia, and the absence of Ministry of Education policy constraints on female promotion since 1972, women held only five (7%) of the 70 substantive head of department appointments in 1991. This paper focuses on reasons why so few females hold such leadership positions. In-depth interviews were conducted with 27 female physical education teachers to document their career experiences and aspirations, and the barriers they perceived to promotion in physical education. Analysis revealed that constraints on the promotion of females were based primarily on stereotypic attitudes and expectations regarding gender-roles. Career decision-making was based on personal experiences, and positive or negative perceptions regarding promotion created from these experiences either reinforced career aspirations, or led to self-limiting beliefs and values which deterred their advancement. |
