Field, capital and habitus: An oral history of women in accounting in Australia during World War II

C Ikin · Leanne Johns · Colleen Hayes

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Gender Diversity and Inequality Biographical and Historical Analysis Oral History, Memory, Narrative Analysis

Abstract

In this article we provide an oral history of women who worked as accountants in Australia during World War II. We use Bourdieu’s theory of practice to identify the accounting profession as a hierarchical field, where relative positions are defined in terms of associated cultural, social and symbolic capital. Women were historically excluded from the profession as they lacked the requisite capital. However, the shortage of male accountants during World War II led to women being employed in otherwise male-dominated positions. We find that women responded positively to this opportunity and challenged the general belief that they were unsuited to accounting work. Furthermore, women received support from male accountants with whom they worked.

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References

1990The Logic of Practice 1987Handbook of Theory and Research for the Sociology of Education.2002The Forms of Capital 1975The specificity of the scientific field and the social conditions of the progress of reason 2002Cultural Capital, Gender, and School Success: The Role of Habitus 1978The Voice of the Past: Oral History 1994Business and Economic History 1996Critical and interpretive histories: insights into accounting’s present and future through its past

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