Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the enactment of a pragmatic inclusionary strategy and
related tactics as a form of feminist activism in one university.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses analytic autoethnography.
Findings – It shows how it is possible for a feminist activist to create limited change in what is typically seen
as an intractable indicator of gender equality, i.e. gender parity at full professorial level.
Research limitations/implications – Analytic autoethnography as a method has considerable
methodological limitations although it also offers insights into insider strategies and tactics.
Practical implications – The identification of such a strategy and tactics may be useful to activists,
decision-makers and policy makers with an interest in tackling any source of inequality.
Social implications – The identification of such a strategy and tactics may be useful to activists,
decision-makers and policy makers with an interest in tackling any source of inequality.
Originality/value – Five tactics, reflecting a pragmatic inclusionary strategy are identified, i.e. provocative
misbehaviour; individualised managing management; perverse alignments; resisting silencing and gaining
legitimacy; activating latent social movement ties to change national policy.
Keywords Higher education, Autoethnographic, Feminist institutionalism, Feminist activism,
Pragmatic inclusionary strategy, Tactics
Paper type Research paper