The impact of workplace culture on gender equality
Chief Investigators: Dr Rebecca Stewart and Associate Professor Kate Fitz-Gibbon
The growing evidence-base in relation to workplace gender equality has to date, focused primarily on interventions targeting formal gender equality indicators, such as pay equity, gender composition of all levels of the workforce including governing bodies, prevention of and responses to workplace sexual harassment, recruitment and promotion practices, gendered work segregation, leave and flexibility options. An area that has been less explored is the impact of the workplace culture in which these interventions are applied.
What is ‘workplace culture’?
Workplace culture refers to the environment employees operate in and includes the often-unspoken norms, behaviours and attitudes that are considered acceptable and tolerated. Workplace culture has been identified as crucial to the success of such interventions (e.g. using paid domestic family violence leave).
When a workplace culture is not supportive of such interventions, outcomes like those described by the 'Nordic Paradox' result. The ‘Nordic Paradox’ posits that female advancement creates male backlash, and when gender norms, stereotypes and attitudes are not addressed, the negative outcomes are expressed elsewhere. Here in Australia, research shows that women earning more than their partners and thus violating the ‘male breadwinner’ stereotype, are 35% more likely to experience partner violence and 20% more like to experience emotional abuse.
Project aims and design
This research aims to gain new insights into the views and experiences of Australian- based workers on how workplaces can create and maintain a culture that is supportive of gender equality. This project will utilise an online national survey to gain new knowledge about:
- Australian-based workers’ views on the current status of gender equality in their workplace,
- Insights into the current cultural climate of Australian workplaces, and
- Areas for further policy and practice reform.
The project will deliver important policy and practice insights that will be of benefit across all Australian States and Territories, and a variety of workplaces and industries nationally.
Funding acknowledgement
This project is part of the Safe and Equal @ Work program funded via the State Government’s Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund (VHESIF).
For more details about this project please contact Dr Rebecca Stewart via email: rebecca.stewart@monash.edu