Romanian women head teachers and the ethics of care

This article reports on a study of six women head teachers in Romania where through their life stories there is a focus on how they have extended their caring roles as mothers, wives, partners and carers into work-related situations and the impact this has on both their personal and professional lives. The article begins with establishing the context of education in post-communist Romania, before examining the current knowledge-base about women professionals and care. The analysis of the stories shows that the Romanian interviewees comment on the advantages the ethics of care brought upon their professional duties in spite of the stereotypes associated with feminine and caring roles. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.