Resistance and reproductions of academic women: Survival strategies in the patriarchal/neoliberal academy

Abstract

In the framework of a broader study, in this article we carry out a qualitative study through active interviews with academic women who inhabit contemporary academia. We recognize academy is transforming in a space where hyper-productivity, individualism, and constant evaluation among other indicators have taken the reins towards a neoliberal academy. Later on, we recognize the academy as a patriarchal space. We aim to detect, make visible and critically describe the strategies used by academic women to inhabit that space. At the same time, we analyze the strategies' points of resistance to neoliberal and patriarchal systems, but also how these strategies can reproduce the very systems they want to rebel against. We create five codes that describe and critically analyze each of these strategies, namely: Masculinization, Perfectionism, Juggling, Boundaries, and Sorority. Finally, we reflect on these strategies and question the patriarchal and neoliberal logics within contemporary academia.