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>Feminist theory  and organisation theory A Dialogue on new bases  Silvia Gherardi Feminist theory and organisation theory A Dialogue on new bases Silvia Gherardi Natalie Crawford Jessica Holloway Victor Popatov Junaid

>Who is Silvia Gherardi Silvia Gherardi is a professor of Sociology at the university Who is Silvia Gherardi Silvia Gherardi is a professor of Sociology at the university of Trento, Italy. She was trained in the sociology of organisations at the University of Exeter. She conducted field researches and studies on the subject of decision-making in organizations, and published two books on it (Le decisioni organizzative, Bologna II Mulino, 1985; Le micro-decisioni nelle organizzazioni, Bologna II, Mulino, 1990

>Who is this article aimed at? Audience, who are specialised, involved/interested in organisation theory Who is this article aimed at? Audience, who are specialised, involved/interested in organisation theory studies. The article is written by a professor, and it is presumed that the language used in this article is understood by the audience. We consider this article to be targeting academic elite, based on the report structure and language.

>Gender as a situated category of analysis The first thing the author looks at Gender as a situated category of analysis The first thing the author looks at is the concept of the term ‘gender’. Silvia Gherardi argues the category of gender has given visibility to, and thereby enabled the investigation of a social reality that was previously non - existent because it was not part of theoretical awareness. According to Piccone Stella and Saraceno (1996) the term ‘gender’ first made its appearance in scientific discourse in 1975. The term ‘gender’ thus arose in the academic studies of American feminism (Nicholson 1994). It was then imported into Europe with different outcomes but a shared endeavour in social studies.

>Gender is a binary concept: men and women constitute gender; or rather, how we Gender is a binary concept: men and women constitute gender; or rather, how we represent ourselves is perceived in society to constitute gender. As a consequence by exploring relationships between men and women gender studies modify the concept of gender leaving way for a plurality of interpretations of ‘what constitutes gender?’ Formulation of the concept of gender imports two simultaneously evoked differences into OT: sexual differences, and power differences. Put simply, one may say the concept has affected organisational analysis by prompting the study of the extent into which sexual difference is socially and organisationally constructed ….

>Where does the gender difference lie? Silvia Gherhardi moves on the examine the Where does the gender difference lie? Silvia Gherhardi moves on the examine the question “What is a woman” in a bid to justify her argument on the concept and invention of the tern ‘gender’. She comes up with three answers …

>The sources of differentiation… The sources of differentiation…

>These differences in relation to OT and FT These approaches are understood differently according These differences in relation to OT and FT These approaches are understood differently according to the approaches in the conversation between FT and OT, however, a overview of the various feminist approaches is necessary to fully understand the different perspectives. Starting with looking at the analysis concluded by Marta Calas and Linda Smircich (1996)

>Who is Marta B. Calás and Linda Smircich  Marta B Calas and Linda Who is Marta B. Calás and Linda Smircich Marta B Calas and Linda smircich are both professors at the Isenberg School of Management. They are the authors of many articles and of ‘Feminist Perspectives on Gender in Organizational Research’ The next slide is an extreme simplification of their analysis with its sole purpose to highlight how the various sex-gender system translate into different conceptions of the relation between gender and organisational studies Its other purpose being how mingling in the social sciences has benefited from the feminist critique.

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>The various feminist approaches Following Calas and Smircichs descriptions of how various feminist approaches The various feminist approaches Following Calas and Smircichs descriptions of how various feminist approaches intersect, different ‘voices’ can be heard in a metaphorical conversation … So to explain the table you have just seen in a little more detail Silvia Gherardi goes on to explain the approaches in much more detail.

>Liberal feminist theory   Liberal political theories of the 18th and 19th century Liberal feminist theory Liberal political theories of the 18th and 19th century Issue of equal access with men in all spheres of life Liberal feminists shifted from themes of equality, to themes of difference in 80s and 90s. In Anglo-Saxon organisational literature the strand of research which investigates gender equity has been labelled ‘women in management’ which seeks to demonstrate that women are as good as men in fulfilling organisational needs. A good concept of this theory is the ‘glass ceiling’ which addresses the persistence of sex segregation.

>Radical feminist theory  Takes the subordination of women as its fundamental problematic and Radical feminist theory Takes the subordination of women as its fundamental problematic and had political roots in the left. Conceives gender as a system of male domination A separatist politics has been theorised in relation to male dominated organisations. In pursuit of alternative organisations, that reflect feminist values and are leaderless and structure less. Feminists organisations should always ask the woman question Some scholars have revised basic organisation concepts such as work, career and management.

>Psycho analytic feminist theory  Denys the biological determinism of traditional psychoanalytical interpretations of Psycho analytic feminist theory Denys the biological determinism of traditional psychoanalytical interpretations of gender and sexuality Different psycho-sexual developments lead to different concepts of justice or morality. Male morality is an ethics of justice, female morality is an ethics of care. By valuing the different the consequences of different psycho sexual developments, organisation theory finds explanations for women's fear of success, for female behaviours that are passive, ambivalent towards a career which fall short in cooperate (male) culture.

>Marxist feminist theory  Conceptualises gender and identity as structural, historical and material. As Marxist feminist theory Conceptualises gender and identity as structural, historical and material. As with class, gender subsumes women’s relation to men under the workers relation to capital. Marxist feminism analyses how identities are constructed through social practices such as work HARTSOCK 1983

>Socialist feminist theory  In explaining the persistence of gender segregation and oppression, socialist Socialist feminist theory In explaining the persistence of gender segregation and oppression, socialist feminism addresses complex intersections of gender, race, class and sexuality. In organisational theory awareness grew that gender assumptions are embedded in societal expectations and that they interact with organisational rules and practices lying ‘underneath’ macro social structural arrangements (Acker 1990, 1992) The gendering and racializing or organisations also occurs through symbols, images, ideologies that legitimize gender inequalities and differences. Game and pringle (1984)

>Post structuralist/Post modern feminist theory   French feminism (Cixous and Clement 1986) and Post structuralist/Post modern feminist theory French feminism (Cixous and Clement 1986) and Anglo-American feminism (weedon 1987) question the claims of many feminist theories which posit a privileged knowing subject, an essential feminine and universal representation of women. Basis for broader critique of how ‘knowledge’ is constructed

>Third world/ post colonial feminist theory  Frantz Fanon (1952) – post colonial studies Third world/ post colonial feminist theory Frantz Fanon (1952) – post colonial studies and an epistemological critique of western thought have acquired a new voice. Fragility of category of gender all the more apparent when one considers the specificities of Third world women constituted as ‘others’ by western knowledge's and first world women. Notions such as hybridization (Bhaba 1988) express forms of assimilation and resistance to the dominant culture.

>The feminist discourse  Feminist theories, such as the ones just demonstrated have stressed The feminist discourse Feminist theories, such as the ones just demonstrated have stressed the constitution of gender locating it mainly in the body (liberal, radical and psychoanalytic), In culture (Marxist, socialist and post colonial), and in language (post-structuralist). This brief demonstration shows crucial patterns in feminist thinking that are also reflected in research on gender in OT. However Silvia Gherardi places that gender is still linked to difference, inequality, and micro politics of power. In the conversation between different feminisms a new awareness of the category ‘gender’ emerges in the intersections between bodies, discourses, and practices.

>Gender in the intersections between Bodies, Discourses and Practices Gender in the intersections between Bodies, Discourses and Practices

>Argument closure & theoretical convergence The argument of the relationship between Feminist theory (FT) Argument closure & theoretical convergence The argument of the relationship between Feminist theory (FT) and Organisational theory (OT) reached temporary closure. Research programme turning point

>Cycles of thought Relabeling the gender/organisation relationship: “Neglected area”     Cycles of thought Relabeling the gender/organisation relationship: “Neglected area” “frenetic endeavour” To emphasize the homogeneity of women

>“Mainstreaming the gender agenda”  Female as a ‘resource’  Valorisation of the female “Mainstreaming the gender agenda” Female as a ‘resource’ Valorisation of the female ‘Organisational seduction’

>Common ground for FT & OT  Sharing an epistemic culture  Agreement on Common ground for FT & OT Sharing an epistemic culture Agreement on the label of ‘post structuralist feminism’ – a critical reflection of how gender is done, order created and fragmentation suppressed.

>Positionality V’s Women's standpoint approach Positionality -  represents gender studies as they have Positionality V’s Women's standpoint approach Positionality - represents gender studies as they have become institutionalised Women's standpoint approach – Position in women's studies which gives priority to a point of view based on women's experiences.

>Gender may be defined as a social accomplishment, learnt and enacted on appropriate occasions Gender may be defined as a social accomplishment, learnt and enacted on appropriate occasions and organised around shared practical understanding of it’s performance. So gender studies may be the terrain of convergence & alliance between post modern organisational studies and post feminism.

>Confluent Research Programmes What has she actually done?  Short research reviewing the articles Confluent Research Programmes What has she actually done? Short research reviewing the articles and theories introduced or written by the other authors on Feminist and Organisation theories. Focused on literature, that identifies the relationship between the gender and organization. In addition, Silvia Gherardi identifies the core problems of the research findings.

>In this article Silvia is discussing three main research programmes:   New analytical/political In this article Silvia is discussing three main research programmes: New analytical/political approach to studying feminism problems. New category of Organisational Analysis. New way in which classical theories are learned and taught.

>1) New analytical/political approach to studying feminist problems: Firstly, she indicated that the Feminist 1) New analytical/political approach to studying feminist problems: Firstly, she indicated that the Feminist problems were traditionally described as an established study based on practices. However, different scholarship/learning has developed from these problems and suggest a different analytical and political approach in this study. - (Du Bois et al, 1987)

>2) New category of organisational analysis Another problem of “gendering organizational analysis” introduced the 2) New category of organisational analysis Another problem of “gendering organizational analysis” introduced the category of gender as one of the categories of organizational analysis, which postulates that gendering occurs through the symbols, images, ideologies that legitimate the opportunity, structure of organizations. - (Mills and Tancred 1983; Mills 1988)

>2) New category of Organisational Analysis(2): Theoretical move from ‘organisation’, as the unit of 2) New category of Organisational Analysis(2): Theoretical move from ‘organisation’, as the unit of analysis to ‘organizing as a boundary-less process’- the gendering programme crossed society boundaries such as: the public and private divide, the economy, organization, families and work, emotion and work. - (Acker 1998)

>3) New way in which classical theories are learned and taught: Third programme basically 3) New way in which classical theories are learned and taught: Third programme basically concentrates on a rereading of the discipline’s ‘classics’ of its founding fathers & mothers such as Weber (Martin and Knopoff 1997), Mayo and Crozier (Acker and Van Houten 1992), Mary Parker Follet and Simone de Beauvoir with the main aim to produce insights that change the ways we think about classic theories and teach them.

>Deconstructionism It is an analytic strategy that exposes various ways in which a text Deconstructionism It is an analytic strategy that exposes various ways in which a text can be interpreted. Tries to demonstrate that any text is not a discrete whole but contains several irreconcilable and contradictory meanings. Any text has more than one interpretation. Organisations use it to reify rather than alleviate gender inequalities.

>Conclusion “I prefer to regard FT and OT as independent of each other, interpreting Conclusion “I prefer to regard FT and OT as independent of each other, interpreting any convergence between the two strands of theorizing as a confluence of interests or a temporary alliance” So Silvia is considering the Feminist Theory and Organisation Theory as two separate theories which although might confluent or converge with each other are not integrated.

>Discussion Question  What are your views on Organisation theory and feminist theories now, Discussion Question What are your views on Organisation theory and feminist theories now, do you think they interrelate? Do you think that now there is a place in modern organisations for them to converge?

>References… www.uef.fi/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=7a9617ca http://www3.unitn.it/rucola/members/gherardi.htm References… www.uef.fi/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=7a9617ca http://www3.unitn.it/rucola/members/gherardi.htm