Through theoretical understanding and a series of conversations with female Vice-Chancellors, this paper highlights the tenuous nature of certain knowledge claims about women, reported throughout the management literature. It further lends support to the assertion that leadership roles held by women are socially constructed rather than intrinsic to the gender. The methodology adopted, a series of semi-structured interviews, has enabled the author to raise issues related to equal opportunities and equality in Higher Education, with regard to leadership and management. Although not statistically documented, the research presents discussions and reflections on themes which are subject to discussion and current debate in educational management and leadership literature. The paper concludes that it is important to discuss further the concept of masculinity and femininity in educational leadership and management, suggesting that femininity is an untapped source of diversity, which should be explored not only by women, but also men in senior management positions within educational organisations.   more »

We describe work in developing an approach to the design of technological artefacts based in pragmatist aesthetics, grounding ideas in a developing case study, representing one possible way in which such a conceptual approach, which we see as essentially empathic, may evolve. From a conception of designer as creative and intersubjective subject, we explore the difficulties and possibilities in designing empathically for blind experience. We propose appropriation as a basis for sighted designers to build empathy with users by understanding blind experience as aesthetic. Various phases of appropriation provide a way of developing empathy and increasing agency in design.   more »