Advancing Gender Equality in the Workplace: Challenges, Strategies, and the Way Forward

Authors

  • Jiaxing Du Charles Darwin University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53469/jtpss.2024.04(04).11

Keywords:

gender equality, workplace, diversity, inclusion, gender bias

Abstract

Gender inequality remains a pervasive issue in the modern workplace, manifesting in various forms, such as wage disparities, unequal promotion opportunities, and underrepresentation in leadership roles. This paper explores the complex factors contributing to gender inequality in the workplace, including gendered organisational structures, intersectional marginalisation, and gender stereotypes and biases. Drawing upon existing literature and research, the paper discusses potential strategies for addressing these challenges, such as implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives, closing the gender pay gap, promoting work-life balance, fostering inclusive leadership, and challenging gender biases. The paper argues that achieving gender equality requires a multi-faceted approach and sustained efforts from organisations, policymakers, and society. Furthermore, promoting gender equality is a matter of fairness and justice and contributes to enhanced organisational innovation, productivity, and financial performance. The paper concludes by emphasising the need for a long-term, collaborative effort to create an inclusive workplace environment where individuals of all genders can thrive and reach their full potential.

References

Acker, J. (1990). Hierarchies, jobs, bodies: A theory of gendered organisations. Gender & Society, 4(2), 139-158. https://doi.org/10.1177/089124390004002002

Acker, J. (2006). Inequality regimes: Gender, class, and race in organisations. Gender & Society, 20(4), 441-464. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891243206289499

Ames, D., Barns, M., & Goodman, J. (2019). The pay gap: How organisations can achieve gender equity in compensation. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2019/11/the-pay-gap-how-organizations-can-achieve-gender-equity-in-compensation

Blau, F. D., & Kahn, L. M. (2017). The gender wage gap: Extent, trends, and explanations. Journal of Economic Literature, 55(3), 789-865. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.20160995

Calas, M. B., & Smircich, L. (2006). From the 'woman's point of view' ten years later: Towards a feminist organisation studies. In S. R. Clegg, C. Hardy, T. B. Lawrence, & W. R. Nord (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of organisation studies (pp. 284-346). SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781848608030.n13

Carnes, M., Devine, P. G., Manwell, L. B., Byars-Winston, A., Fine, E., Ford, C. E., Forscher, P., Isaac, C., Kaatz, A., Magua, W., Palta, M., & Sheridan, J. (2015). The effect of an intervention to break the gender bias habit for faculty at one institution: A cluster randomized, controlled trial. Academic Medicine, 90(2), 221-230. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000000552

Crenshaw, K. (1989). Demarginalizing the intersection of race and sex: A Black feminist critique of antidiscrimination doctrine, feminist theory and antiracist politics. University of Chicago Legal Forum, 1989(1), 139-167. https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/uclf/vol1989/iss1/8

Deloitte. (2018). 2018 Deloitte Millennial Survey. https://www2.deloitte.com/global/en/pages/about-deloitte/articles/millennialsurvey.html

Eagly, A. H., & Karau, S. J. (2002). Role congruity theory of prejudice toward female leaders. Psychological Review, 109(3), 573-598. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.109.3.573

Ely, R. J., & Thomas, D. A. (2001). Cultural diversity at work: The effects of diversity perspectives on work group processes and outcomes. Administrative Science Quarterly, 46(2), 229-273. https://doi.org/10.2307/2667087

Ely, R. J., & Meyerson, D. E. (2000). Theories of gender in organizations: A new approach to organizational analysis and change. Research in Organizational Behavior, 22, 103-151. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-3085(00)22004-2

Fuller, S., & Hirsh, C. E. (2019). ""Family-friendly"" jobs and motherhood pay penalties: The impact of flexible work arrangements across the educational spectrum. Work and Occupations, 46(1), 3-44. https://doi.org/10.1177/0730888418771116

Heilman, M. E. (2012). Gender stereotypes and workplace bias. Research in Organizational Behavior, 32, 113-135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.riob.2012.11.003

Heilman, M. E., & Haynes, M. C. (2005). No credit where credit is due: Attributional rationalization of women's success in male-female teams. Journal of Applied Psychology, 90(5), 905-916. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.90.5.905

Hunt, V., Layton, D., & Prince, S. (2015). Diversity matters. McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/business%20functions/organization/our%20insights/why%20diversity%20matters/diversity%20matters.pdf

Ibarra, H., Ely, R., & Kolb, D. (2013). Women rising: The unseen barriers. Harvard Business Review, 91(9), 60-66. https://hbr.org/2013/09/women-rising-the-unseen-barriers

Joshi, A., Son, J., & Roh, H. (2015). When can women close the gap? A meta-analytic test of sex differences in performance and rewards. Academy of Management Journal, 58(5), 1516-1545. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2013.0721

Kalev, A., Dobbin, F., & Kelly, E. (2006). Best practices or best guesses? Assessing the efficacy of corporate affirmative action and diversity policies. American Sociological Review, 71(4), 589-617. https://doi.org/10.1177/000312240607100404

Kanter, R. M. (1977). Men and women of the corporation. Basic Books.

Kossek, E. E., Su, R., & Wu, L. (2017). ""Opting out"" or ""pushed out""? Integrating perspectives on women's career equality for gender inclusion and interventions. Journal of Management, 43(1), 228-254. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206316671582

Levanon, A., England, P., & Allison, P. (2009). Occupational feminization and pay: Assessing causal dynamics using 1950-2000 U.S. census data. Social Forces, 88(2), 865-891. https://doi.org/10.1353/sof.0.0264

Moss-Racusin, C. A., Dovidio, J. F., Brescoll, V. L., Graham, M. J., & Handelsman, J. (2012). Science faculty's subtle gender biases favor male students. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(41), 16474-16479. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1211286109

Ridgeway, C. L. (2011). Framed by gender: How gender inequality persists in the modern world. Oxford University Press.

Rudman, L. A., & Glick, P. (2001). Prescriptive gender stereotypes and backlash toward agentic women. Journal of Social Issues, 57(4), 743-762. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-4537.00239

Sandberg, S. (2013). Lean in: Women, work, and the will to lead. Alfred A. Knopf.

Schein, V. E. (2001). A global look at psychological barriers to women's progress in management. Journal of Social Issues, 57(4), 675-688. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-4537.00235

Stamarski, C. S., & Son Hing, L. S. (2015). Gender inequalities in the workplace: The effects of organizational structures, processes, practices, and decision makers' sexism. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 1400. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01400

Steinpreis, R. E., Anders, K. A., & Ritzke, D. (1999). The impact of gender on the review of the curricula vitae of job applicants and tenure candidates: A national empirical study. Sex Roles, 41(7), 509-528. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018839203698

Thébaud, S. (2010). Gender and entrepreneurship as a career choice: Do self-assessments of ability matter? Social Psychology Quarterly, 73(3), 288-304. https://doi.org/10.1177/0190272510377882

Thomas, R., Cooper, M., Konar, E., Rooney, M., Noble-Tolla, M., Bohrer, A., Yee, L., Krivkovich, A., Starikova, I., Robinson, K., Nadeau, M.-C., & Robinson, N. (2018). Women in the workplace 2018. McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/gender-equality/women-in-the-workplace-2018

Williams, J. C., & Dempsey, R. (2014). What works for women at work: Four patterns working women need to know. New York University Press.

Williams, J. C., Phillips, K. W., & Hall, E. V. (2014). Double jeopardy? Gender bias against women of color in science. WorkLife Law, UC Hastings College of the Law. https://worklifelaw.org/publications/Double-Jeopardy-Report_v6_full_web-sm.pdf

World Economic Forum. (2020). Global Gender Gap Report 2020. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2020.pdf

Yee, L., Thomas, R., Krivkovich, A., Finch, A., Kutcher, E., Cooper, M., Epstein, B., Konar, E., & Bohrer, A. (2020). Women in the workplace 2020. McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/women-in-the-workplace

Downloads

Published

2024-05-09

How to Cite

Du, J. (2024). Advancing Gender Equality in the Workplace: Challenges, Strategies, and the Way Forward. Journal of Theory and Practice of Social Science, 4(04), 46–50. https://doi.org/10.53469/jtpss.2024.04(04).11