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Gender as an Ideological Dilemma

In: Performing Gender at Work

Author

Listed:
  • Elisabeth Kelan

    (King’s College London)

Abstract

On the one hand, gender relations appear to be in flux; on the other hand, they seem to have changed little. Institutional gender discrimination is supposedly a thing of the past in most parts of the Western world (Beck, 2002; Beck and Beck-Gernsheim, 2002a; Castells, 2000; 2004a; 2004b). As success at work is now allegedly based on individual abilities rather than gender, it is often asserted that gender matters less there. Most people talk about their work environment as gender egalitarian and downplay the importance of gender (Benschop and Doorewaard, 1998b; Gill, 2002; Henwood, 1998; Jorgensen, 2002; Korvajärvi, 1998). Gender seems to be passé, and feminist claims appear to have been incorporated into the modern world. However, Gill (2007; 2008) analyses how feminist claims are not only incorporated but also repudiated and rendered ineffective by current media discourses. As I show in this chapter, this tendency can also be observed in the work context.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisabeth Kelan, 2009. "Gender as an Ideological Dilemma," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Performing Gender at Work, chapter 6, pages 145-181, Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-0-230-24449-8_6
    DOI: 10.1057/9780230244498_6
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jette Sandager, 2021. "Mentoring as affective governmentality: Shame, (un)happiness, and the (re)production of masculine leadership," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(4), pages 1304-1322, July.
    2. Natasha Cortis & Meraiah Foley & Sue Williamson, 2022. "Change agents or defending the status quo? How senior leaders frame workplace gender equality," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(1), pages 205-221, January.
    3. Hayfaa A. Tlaiss & Maura McAdam, 2023. "Muslim feminists and entrepreneurship at times and in contexts of crises," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 1759-1784, September.
    4. Shelly Ronen, 2018. "The postfeminist ideology at work: Endorsing gender essentialism and denying feminine devaluation in the case of design work," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(5), pages 514-530, September.
    5. Yvonne Benschop & Patricia Lewis & Ruth Simpson & Maria Adamson, 2017. "Postfeminism, Neoliberalism and A ‘Successfully’ Balanced Femininity in Celebrity CEO Autobiographies," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(3), pages 314-327, May.
    6. Irene Kamberidou, 2020. "“Distinguished” women entrepreneurs in the digital economy and the multitasking whirlpool," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-26, December.
    7. Hayfaa A. Tlaiss & Maura McAdam, 2021. "Unexpected Lives: The Intersection of Islam and Arab Women’s Entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 171(2), pages 253-272, June.
    8. Meredith Nash & Brendan Churchill, 2020. "Caring during COVID‐19: A gendered analysis of Australian university responses to managing remote working and caring responsibilities," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(5), pages 833-846, September.
    9. Cayce C. Hughes & Kristen Schilt & Bridget K. Gorman & Jenifer L. Bratter, 2017. "Framing the Faculty Gender Gap: A View from STEM Doctoral Students," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(4), pages 398-416, July.
    10. Van den Brink, Marieke & Stobbe, Lineke, 2014. "The support paradox: Overcoming dilemmas in gender equality programs," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(2), pages 163-174.
    11. Yvonne Benschop & Patricia Lewis & Ruth Simpson & Nick Rumens, 2017. "Postfeminism, Men, Masculinities and Work: A Research Agenda for Gender and Organization Studies Scholars," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(3), pages 245-259, May.
    12. Yvonne Benschop & Patricia Lewis & Ruth Simpson & Patricia Lewis & Yvonne Benschop & Ruth Simpson, 2017. "Postfeminism, Gender and Organization," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(3), pages 213-225, May.
    13. Linda Colley & Sue Williamson & Meraiah Foley, 2021. "Understanding, ownership, or resistance: Explaining persistent gender inequality in public services," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 284-300, January.
    14. Larissa Petrucci, 2020. "Theorizing postfeminist communities: How gender‐inclusive meetups address gender inequity in high‐tech industries," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(4), pages 545-564, July.
    15. Arístides A. Vara-Horna & Zaida B. Asencios-Gonzalez & Liliana Quipuzco-Chicata & Alberto Díaz-Rosillo, 2022. "Are Companies Committed to Preventing Gender Violence against Women? The Role of the Manager’s Implicit Resistance," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-19, December.
    16. Susan Marlow & Maura McAdam, 2015. "Incubation or Induction? Gendered Identity Work in the Context of Technology Business Incubation," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 39(4), pages 791-816, July.
    17. Claudia Balan & Marieke van den Brink & Yvonne Benschop, 2023. "New fathers, ideal workers? New players in the field of father‐friendly work organizations," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(3), pages 957-981, May.
    18. Lorna Treanor & Susan Marlow & Janine Swail, 2021. "Rationalizing the postfeminist paradox: The case of UK women veterinary professionals," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 337-360, January.
    19. Soline Blanchard, 2022. "Feminism through the market? A study of gender‐equality consultants in France," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 443-465, March.

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