Absent Aviators

Donna Bridges has a PhD in sociology from the University of Western Sydney (UWS). Her doctoral thesis ’The Gendered Battlefield: Women in the Australian Defence Force’ is a qualitative, feminist exploration of gender inequalities in the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Donna lectures across a range of sociology subjects at Charles Sturt University. Donna is co-editor of the qualitative research book ’Creative Spaces for Qualitative Researching: Living Research’ Higgs, J; Titchen, A; Horsfall, D and Bridges, D. (2011). Her research interests include qualitative research methodologies; gender, masculinity and feminist theory; culture; peace studies; peacekeeping and women’s roles; and military sociology. Jane Neal-Smith has a PhD in Industrial Psychology and Sociology which explored the working lives of UK commercial women airline pilots. She is currently a senior lecturer at London Metropolitan Business School in the Management, Strategy and Leadership subject group. Her research interests are in aviation psychology and human factors, women in the workplace, gender in employment and organisational behaviour. She is a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society (MRAeS) and the European Association for Aviation Psychology (EAAP). Albert J. Mills is Professor of Management and Director of the PhD (Management) Program at Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. His 300 publications include numerous books, book chapters, and journal articles on gender and commercial aviation. He is an Associate Editor of three scholarly journals - Organization; Gender, Work and Organization, and Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management, and serves on the editorial boards of several other journals. He is the author of Sex, Strategy and the Stratosphere: the gendering of airline cultures (Palgrave/MacMillan), and his latest book is ANTi-History: Theorizing the Past, History, and Historiography in Management and Organizational Studies (IAP, 2012).

'Aviation is an intensely competitive, global industry providing transportation and employment across the world. Absent Aviators is a must read for anyone with an interest in the gendered history, structure and culture of this fascinating industry. It is predicted that over 400,000 new pilots will be needed within the next two decades to meet increasing demand. Against this background, the contributors to this timely book ask, why are women so under-represented in commercial airline piloting, and what can be done to address this problem?' Melissa Tyler, University of Essex, UK ’Aviation buffs, sociologists of work, and feminists alike will applaud the achievements of this ample volume, detailing the man’s world of piloting. The diverse background of authors - including from within aviation - gives the volume its great texture and authority. As the cockpit remains one of the most staunchly masculinist spaces in industrial employment, Absent Aviators tackles these highly gendered realms as both a human problem and management issue.’ Christine Yano, University of Hawaii, USA ’Absent Aviators presents a breathtaking exposure of the gendered dimensions of the historically male-dominated civil and military aviation industry. The diverse perspectives, conceptual and methodological approaches adopted by both academic and industry-based contributors provide unique insights into the barriers faced by female aviators in a variety of cases drawn from different national, historical and contemporary contexts.’ Lucy Taksa, Macquarie University, Australia

• Absent Aviators