Women and school management in Chile: the challenge of reconciling work and family

Abstract

During the last decade, Chilean education has experienced an increase in the presence of women in leadership positions. In this context, this article seeks to investigate how Chilean directors manage to experience work-family conciliation. The reflections presented are part of a qualitative research that included the speeches of ten directors of Chilean basic education educational establishments. Among the main results, stand out: confronting gender stereotypes in office, the extension of working hours and defining work practices that reconfigure the maternal role. In this sense, there is a need to continue advancing in political that facilitate work-family reconciliation, since if the generation of equitable conditions for the development of women and men in the labor market, it is probable that will continue to deprive themselves of the real contribution of women in leadership positions.