This paper examines the consequences of the turn to managerialism in higher education in England and Sweden, following the introduction of New Public Managementreforms. The paper considers some of the gender implications, which are explored through the accounts of eight, long-serving, female academics. The first interviews were conducted in 2001 with two female academics in Sweden and two in England, and followed up ten years later in 2011-2012 with four new interviewees, all long-serving female academics. The same interview questions were used at both occasions. While there were differences between the two countries, there was also much similarity. In 2001 respondents generally presented a negative picture of the reforms and highlighted the problems of adjusting to them. Ten years later there seemed to be more accommodation to the reforms. And yet the gendered implications of this are significant: women academics are clearly finding it difficult to pursue research to the extent that they would wish, while they are taking on many teaching and administrative functions.