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Gender as Symbolic Capital and Violence: The Case of Corporate Elites in Turkey

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  • Sibel Yamak
  • Ali Ergur
  • Mustafa F. Özbilgin
  • Ozan Nadir Alakavuklar

Abstract

type="main"> Based on a Bourdieusian approach, drawing on qualitative analyses of 63 life interviews, our study demonstrates that gender is performed as both symbolic capital and violence by corporate elites within the dominant ideologies of patriarchy and family in Turkey. Our analysis reveals that, in the male-dominated context of Turkey, female elites appear to favour male alliances as a tactical move in order to acquire and maintain status in their organizations, whereas male elites appear to remain blind to the privileges and constraints of their own gendered experience of symbolic capital and violence. Our study also illustrates that gender order is still preserved, despite beliefs to the contrary that equality in education, skills, experience and job performance may liberate women and men from gender-based outcomes at work.

Suggested Citation

  • Sibel Yamak & Ali Ergur & Mustafa F. Özbilgin & Ozan Nadir Alakavuklar, 2016. "Gender as Symbolic Capital and Violence: The Case of Corporate Elites in Turkey," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(2), pages 125-146, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:gender:v:23:y:2016:i:2:p:125-146
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/gwao.12115
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Seierstad, Cathrine & Opsahl, Tore, 2011. "For the few not the many? The effects of affirmative action on presence, prominence, and social capital of women directors in Norway," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 44-54, March.
    2. Mariateresa Torchia & Andrea Calabrò & Morten Huse, 2011. "Women Directors on Corporate Boards: From Tokenism to Critical Mass," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 102(2), pages 299-317, August.
    3. Zattoni,Alessandro & Judge,William (ed.), 2012. "Corporate Governance and Initial Public Offerings," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781107016866, Enero-Abr.
    4. Gherardi, Silvia & Poggio, Barbara, 2001. "Creating and recreating gender order in organizations," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 245-259, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Afua Owusu‐Kwarteng & Cynthia Forson & Olufunmilola (Lola) Dada & Sarah Jack, 2025. "A symbolic violence approach to gender inequality in academia," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 436-457, January.
    2. Nicole Ferry, 2025. "Where is the patriarchy?: A review and research agenda for the concept of patriarchy in management and organization studies," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 302-329, January.
    3. repec:plo:pone00:0236840 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Toyin Ajibade Adisa & Chima Mordi & Ruth Simpson & Vanessa Iwowo, 2021. "Social dominance, hypermasculinity, and career barriers in Nigeria," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 175-194, January.
    5. Elina Meliou & Mustafa Ozbilgin, 2024. "How is the Illusio of Gender Equality in Entrepreneurship Sustained? A Bourdieusian Perspective," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(4), pages 1536-1561, June.
    6. Sophie Hennekam & Sarah Richard & Mustafa Özbilgin, 2023. "How Social Structures Influence the Labour Market Participation of Individuals with Mental Illness: A Bourdieusian Perspective," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(1), pages 174-203, January.
    7. Michelle Gander, 2019. "Let the right one in: A Bourdieusian analysis of gender inequality in universities’ senior management," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(2), pages 107-123, March.
    8. Joana Vassilopoulou & Mustafa Ozbilgin & Dimitria Groutsis & Janroj Keles, 2022. "Populism as New Wine in Old Bottles in the Context of Germany: ‘Symbolic Violence’ as Collective Habitus That Devalues the Human Capital of Turks," Societies, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-16, March.

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