What does “gender equality” mean? Social representations of gender equality in the workplace among French workers

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 825-847
Author(s):  
Clotilde Coron
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Social Representations ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Equal Pay ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Awareness Campaigns

PurposeThis work deals with social representations of gender equality in the workplace. Little academic work deals with the way workers define gender equality. My research also deals with the implications of this definition in terms of policy implementation.Design/methodology/approachThis work is based on a mixed-method approach. A quantitative study based on an online survey conducted in 2015 at a French company is mobilized to identify and measure the main representations of gender equality among the workers. Then, a qualitative study is used to explore these representations in depth and to examine how they influence the implementation of policy on gender equality.FindingsThis work shows that for French workers, equal pay and equal access to responsibilities are the most important dimensions of gender equality, while gender diversity and work-life balance seem less important. The representation of gender equality varies according to gender, professional field and managerial status. These variations help to understand the difficulty of implementing such policy.Practical implicationsManagerially, these results would strongly indicate that companies in France, but also in other developed countries, should consider carrying out awareness campaigns aimed at employees in order to promote a common culture and definition of gender equality. Indeed, the coexistence of various representations of gender equality partly explains the insufficient implementation—and thus the poor performance and general effectiveness of gender equality policies, both in theoretical and practical terms. Companies should also consider introducing awareness campaigns that specifically target men, who grant less importance to gender equality than women.Originality/valueThis study deals with social representations of gender equality in France, a subject which has been largely neglected or overlooked in existing fields of gender research. The international literature on gender equality shows that variations in representations of gender equality constitute a major subject for research and policies about gender, whatever the country. However, this topic still remains inadequately addressed. This research aims to strengthen such research literature dedicated to the issue of gender equality.

Equal pay, equal access

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Social Representations ◽  
Gender Inequalities ◽  
Equal Pay ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Global workforces are still impacted by gender inequalities – there remains a gender gap in pay, in access to roles of responsibility and in terms of work-life balance. A challenge facing gender equality in the workplace is an agreed definition – organizations, managers and employees have different social representations of gender equality and place differing levels of importance on different dimensions. This can affect implementation of gender equality policies in the workplace, which rely on the goodwill of individuals to put policy into practice. Organizations need to recognize which dimensions are most important to their workplace in order to successfully implement equality. Originality The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

scholarly journals Promoting gender equality in a challenging environment

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lena Elisabeth Kemper ◽  
Anna Katharina Bader ◽  
Fabian Jintae Froese
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
High Ratio ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Pay Gap ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organizational Differences ◽  
Managerial Positions

Purpose Gender diversity and equality vary tremendously among countries. This is a particular challenge for foreign subsidiaries, when the level of gender diversity and equality differs between the home and host country. Various indicators such as a low-gender pay gap or a high ratio of females in managerial positions suggest that Scandinavia is ahead in terms of gender diversity and equality, whereas those indicators suggest that the level in Japan is currently lower. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how executives leading Scandinavian subsidiaries operating in Japan perceive this situation, and whether and what kind of actions they take to initiate change. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on a qualitative analysis of 20 in-depth interviews with executives of Scandinavian subsidiaries in Japan. Findings Findings reveal that executives of Scandinavian subsidiaries respond to the major differences in gender equality between Scandinavia and Japan with three strategies of change: resistance and rigid change, compromise and moderate change, and adaptation and maintaining status quo. Moreover, the findings indicate that the strategy of change varies depending on individual differences of the executives, e.g., nationality, and organizational differences, e.g., subsidiary size. Research limitations/implications Due to the small sample size, the generalizability of the findings is limited. Given the paucity of research on this topic, this approach provides first insights for building a basis for future studies. Originality/value This study contributes to the scarce literature on gender diversity and equality in multinational enterprises by identifying strategies of how gender equality can be fostered in a non-Western context from a top executive perspective.

“Unfair to women”? Equal representation policies in Swedish academia

2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Women Managers ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Context ◽  
Academic Organizations ◽  
Management Positions ◽  
Empirical Context ◽  
Vice Chancellors

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to highlight how women managers in Swedish higher education (HE) both support and resist policies about equal representation, and to discuss which factors influenced if, and how, these managers took on the role as change agents for gender equality. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on qualitative semi-structured interviews with 22 women in senior academic management positions (vice-chancellors, pro vice-chancellors, deans and pro deans) in ten Swedish HE institutions. Findings – The paper highlights how these women situated themselves in an academic context where gender relations were changing. They supported equal representation policies in their everyday managerial practice and also by accepting management positions that they were nominated and elected to on the basis of such policies. However, they also resisted these policies when they experienced a need to “protect” women from being exploited “in the name of gender equality”. Research limitations/implications – The paper addresses the call for research on the role of women managers in promoting, or preventing, change towards more gender balanced organizations. The paper builds on a small qualitative study with women only interviews. The study is therefore to be considered as explorative. Practical implications – The paper makes a contribution to the research literature in the area of gender and change in academic organizations. The findings highlight how policies have different consequences in different settings and that people use their own (different) experiences when interpreting the effects of these policies. The findings thus show the varying impacts equal representation policies can have on women. Originality/value – The discussion in the paper is situated in a unique empirical context characterized by demographic feminization and organizational restructuring. Most international literature on women in HE and in HE management is based on US or UK contexts. Swedish HE therefore provides an interesting setting. The analysis also addresses the call for more research that takes into account the multifaceted character of HE and that discusses disciplinary differences.

Virus will divert but not derail gender rights fight

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Sexual Harassment ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
New Wave ◽  
Equal Pay ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cultural Shifts

Subject Gender rights movements. Significance Since 2017, a new wave of the fight for gender equality has spread globally as activists share tactics and build transnational networks through social media. From the online #MeToo Movement to massive women’s strikes, demands to end sexual harassment and violence are already leading to cultural shifts and a barrage of new legislation. Despite backlash, and disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global gender rights movement will give rise to significant legal, social and political change. Impacts Governments globally will see greater civil society pressure to pass new legislation on sexual violence and harassment. Companies will be required to abide by new regulations governing harassment and equal pay in a growing number of countries. COVID-19 will temporarily slow organising efforts, but in the long term bring new allies to the movement.

US Equal Rights Amendment push faces challenges

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Equal Rights Amendment ◽  
Equal Rights ◽  
Economic Equality ◽  
Equal Pay ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Equal Work

Significance The Senate is unlikely to take up the measure, especially as Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he does not support it. Even if the Senate were to follow the House, the ERA’s dubious, delayed ratification process would still raise serious constitutional issues. Impacts The ERA would provide plaintiffs with additional means to enforce gender equality. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi believes the ERA would ease ensuring women’s economic equality, such as equal pay for equal work. Conservatives will oppose the ERA, and emphasise concerns that the amendment has not been properly ratified.

The prevalence and content of police discipline matrices

2015 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 788-804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Harris ◽  
Kristen Chierus ◽  
Timothy C. Edson
Keyword(s):  
Police Officers ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Police Departments ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Content Type ◽  
National Surveys ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the prevalence of the use of discipline matrices across large US police departments, as well as to compare the structure and content of such matrices. Design/methodology/approach – The study employs a two phase approach. Phase I consisted of a brief online survey of a stratified, random sample of police departments with 100 or more sworn police officers and asked about whether or not the agency employed a discipline matrix. Phase II consisted of requesting a copy of the matrix and corresponding materials from all agencies who indicated they employed a matrix, and analyzing the content of those matrices. Findings – In total, 37 percent of responding agencies said they are using or are planning a discipline matrix, and the authors obtained a matrix from 32 police departments. The structure of the matrices and recommended discipline varied widely across these departments, indicating a lack of consensus on the development of this relatively new accountability tool. Research limitations/implications – The survey focussed on large police departments and the response rate was somewhat lower than other past national surveys. Practical implications – Discipline matrices are employed to a greater extent than is implied by the current research literature. The lack of consensus and variability in policies around matrices indicates a need for more research which could contribute toward the formation of a model policy in this regard. Originality/value – To date the prevalence of discipline matrices across US police departments was unknown, and very little was known about how they were structured or what comprised their content.

Actions beyond regulatory compliances: perceived climate strategy proactivity in Indian companies

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikhil Kant
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Analytical Research ◽  
Climate Crisis ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Purpose This paper aims to assess the perceptions of stakeholders as regards the practices of Indian companies vis-à-vis climate change seeking underpinnings from stakeholder theory and collecting data using a structured questionnaire. Design/methodology/approach This paper used a descriptive analytical research design based on the data collected from a diverse sample of stakeholders of Indian companies through a cross-sectional, self-administered online survey questionnaire. Findings The study attaching significance to the stakeholders’ perception as a useful tool underscores that Indian companies have started to engage in preventive measures to minimize the externalities of climate crisis taking cognizance of the stakeholders’ interests amidst their increased awareness, also underlining that their perceptions substantially determine climate strategy proactivity (CSP) in their quest of competitive advantage beyond regulatory compliances. The study finds that incessant growth in the stakeholder awareness has not left companies to remain reluctant from analyzing effects and adopting suitable strategies in India also which, as a fast growing developing country, has witnessed immense growth in the post-liberalization era. Research limitations/implications This study would help decision-makers in businesses, policymakers, practitioners and standard-setters by providing further insights on the relevance of stakeholders’ perspectives in CSP in the developing countries. Stakeholders’ perceptions though representing varied categories hint that the actions beyond regulatory compliances need to be in focus in future studies. Originality/value The paper elaborates the significance of CSP in developing countries to eliminate the impact of inadequacies that previous studies undertook primarily in developed countries have failed in contextualizing these issues of developing countries.

Forming digital identities in social networks: the role of privacy concerns and self-esteem

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thanos Papaioannou ◽  
Aggeliki Tsohou ◽  
Maria Karyda
Keyword(s):  
Identity Formation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Security And Privacy ◽  
Digital Identity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Privacy Concerns ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Data Elements

Purpose This paper aims to identify the data elements that social network sites (SNS) users consider important for shaping their digital identity and explore how users’ privacy concerns, self-esteem and the chosen SNS shape this process. Design/methodology/approach This study conducted an online survey with the participation of 759 individuals, to examine the influence of privacy concerns, self-esteem and the chosen SNS platform, on the shaping of the digital identity, through a classification of identity elements that users disclose when using a SNS, the Rosenberg self-esteem scale and relevant constructs from the literature. Findings Findings reveal that users consider the name, gender, picture, interests and job as most important elements for shaping their digital identity. They also demonstrate that privacy concerns do not seem to affect the amount of information users choose to publish when shaping their digital identity. Specific characteristics of SNS platforms are found to affect the way that users shape their digital identity and their privacy behavior. Finally, self-esteem was found to affect privacy concerns and digital identity formation. Research limitations/implications To avoid a lengthy questionnaire and the risk of low participation, the respondents answered the questions for one SNS of their choice instead of answering the full questionnaire for each SNS that they use. The survey included the most popular SNSs at the time of the survey in terms of popularity. Practical implications The results contribute to the theory by furthering our knowledge on the elements that shape digital identity and by providing evidence with regard to the role of privacy and self-esteem within social networking. In practice, they can be useful for SNS providers, as well as for entities that design security and privacy awareness campaigns. Originality/value This paper identifies novel factors that influence digital identity formation, including the specific SNS used with its particular characteristics in combination with privacy concerns and self-esteem of the user.

EU gender strategy will struggle to close rising gaps

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Equal Pay ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Flexible Working ◽  
Time Work ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Integral Element ◽  
Fiscal Austerity

Significance Her Commission is making a concerted push to advance gender equality. To that end, it has brought forward an integral element of its 2020 Gender Equality Strategy (GES): a draft directive on equal pay and pay transparency. Impacts Women’s unemployment will be hard to reduce since sectors such as hospitality and tourism will take years to recover. Post-pandemic fiscal austerity would cloud women’s economic prospects if cuts affect child and social care spending. Flexible working would facilitate women’s return to full-time or part-time work.

Effect of country image and materialism on the quality evaluation of Korean products

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 386-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Byoungho Ellie Jin ◽  
Naeun Lauren Kim ◽  
Heesoon Yang ◽  
Minji Jung
Keyword(s):  
Product Quality ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Quality Evaluation ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Country Image ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
The Impact

Purpose It is critical to understand how global consumers evaluate the quality of Asian products while marketing Asian products in the global marketplaces. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of Korea’s macro and micro country image and global consumers’ materialism level on the quality evaluation of Korean cosmetics among consumers in four countries. Design/methodology/approach Data from 900 participants were collected from consumers aged 20 or older living in economically developed countries (the USA and France) and economically developing countries (China and Vietnam) via professional online survey firms. Multiple regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Findings Along with the direct effect of macro and micro country image and materialism on product quality evaluation, a moderating effect of materialism and the respective country was discovered. Subsequently, the effect of macro country image on quality evaluation was found to be only significant in the USA and France and not in China and Vietnam. In contrast, the impact of micro country image was robust across all four countries. Furthermore, the effect of materialism on product quality was significant only in Vietnam. This implies that materialistic consumers in emerging markets might have favorable perceptions regarding the quality of Korean cosmetics. Originality/value This study advances country image research by providing new theoretical and managerial implications for countries whose image is less distinctive with respect to the effective marketing of products by the destination countries’ development status and consumers’ familiarity.

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