IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/gender/v29y2022i4p1041-1064.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Rethinking how we work with Acker's theory of gendered organizations: An abductive approach for feminist empirical research

Author

Listed:
  • Trudy Bates

Abstract

In this article I demonstrate the methodological value of working abductively with Joan Acker's theory of gendered organizations, as an approach for feminist empirical research. Although the value of Acker's theory is acknowledged, I note it is most frequently used to legitimize the idea that organizations are gendered, not to test whether they are. Few use her theory fully or as it was originally intended. Fewer still have questioned it. This, I argue, contributes to the stagnation of her ideas and results in blindness toward, or disregard for, data that does not support her theory. To realize the analytical potential of Acker's theory, I call for future studies to work abductively with data unaccounted for in the expectations and predictions set by Acker, while operationalizing her five‐dimensional framework in its entirety. Abduction is about discovering new concepts, ideas, and explanations by working with surprising phenomena or data that cannot be explained by pre‐existing knowledge. To demonstrate the utility of this approach, I draw upon a qualitative case study of one atypical Australian trade union. I outline the creative process of drawing inferences to best explain anomalous observations using other theoretical resources in the gender studies field, which together with Acker, constitute a plausible explanation for questions that arose during analysis. This analysis not only surfaces how masculine power is maintained by having women in leadership positions, who serve as “role models” while quieting “others,” but that women and men cooperated as a “team” to support a feminine public impression of the union that was knowingly contradicted in private, indicating a more “truthful” performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Trudy Bates, 2022. "Rethinking how we work with Acker's theory of gendered organizations: An abductive approach for feminist empirical research," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(4), pages 1041-1064, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:gender:v:29:y:2022:i:4:p:1041-1064
    DOI: 10.1111/gwao.12795
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/gwao.12795
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/gwao.12795?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lotte Bailyn & Joyce K. Fletcher, 2019. "Reflections on Joan Acker's influence on us and on her legacy: A dialogue," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(12), pages 1688-1693, December.
    2. Stella M. Nkomo & Jenny K. Rodriguez, 2019. "Joan Acker's influence on Management and Organization Studies: Review, analysis and directions for the future," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(12), pages 1730-1748, December.
    3. Rudolf R. Sinkovics & Eva A. Alfoldi, 2012. "Progressive Focusing and Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 52(6), pages 817-845, December.
    4. Samantha J. Simon, 2019. "Hollywood power brokers: Gender and racial inequality in talent agencies," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(9), pages 1340-1356, September.
    5. Julie Rowlands & Jill Blackmore & Andrea Gallant, 2020. "Enacting leadership professional development and the impediments to organizational and industry change in rural and regional Australia," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(6), pages 1269-1284, November.
    6. Mats Alvesson & Jörgen Sandberg, 2013. "Has Management Studies Lost Its Way? Ideas for More Imaginative and Innovative Research," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(1), pages 128-152, January.
    7. Lisa Adkins, 2019. "Work in the shadow of finance: Rethinking Joan Acker's materialist feminist sociology," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(12), pages 1776-1785, December.
    8. Susan Sayce, 2019. "Revisiting Joan Acker's work with the support of Joan Acker," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(12), pages 1721-1729, December.
    9. repec:dau:papers:123456789/11780 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Colette Fagan & Nina Teasdale, 2021. "Women Professors across STEMM and Non-STEMM Disciplines: Navigating Gendered Spaces and Playing the Academic Game," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 35(4), pages 774-792, August.
    11. Geraldine Healy & Gill Kirton, 2000. "Women, Power and Trade Union Government in the UK," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 38(3), pages 343-360, September.
    12. Judith K. Pringle & Candice Harris & Katherine Ravenswood & Lynne Giddings & Irene Ryan & Sabina Jaeger, 2017. "Women's Career Progression in Law Firms: Views from the Top, Views From Below," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(4), pages 435-449, July.
    13. Carmona, Salvador & Ezzamel, Mahmoud, 2016. "Accounting and lived experience in the gendered workplace," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 1-8.
    14. Elizabeth D. Almer & M. Kathleen Harris & Julia L. Higgs & Joseph R. Rakestraw, 2021. "Partner Gender Differences in Prestige of Clients Served at the Largest U.S. Audit Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 173(2), pages 401-421, October.
    15. Kathrin Zippel, 2019. "Gendered images of international research collaboration," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(12), pages 1794-1805, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Esme Franken & Fleur Sharafizad & Kerry Brown, 2024. "Gender, vulnerabilities, and how the other becomes the otherer in academia," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(4), pages 1342-1365, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Gendron, Yves, 2018. "Beyond conventional boundaries: Corporate governance as inspiration for critical accounting research," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 1-11.
    2. Lambert, Stephanie A. & Herbert, Ian P. & Rothwell, Andrew T., 2020. "Rethinking the Career Anchors Inventory framework with insights from a finance transformation field study," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 52(2).
    3. Eline Jammaers & Astrid Huopalainen, 2023. "“I prefer working with mares, like women, difficult in character but go the extra mile”: A study of multiple inequalities in equine (sports) business," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(6), pages 2049-2068, November.
    4. Andrew Corbett & Joep Cornelissen & Andrew Delios & Bill Harley, 2014. "Variety, Novelty, and Perceptions of Scholarship in Research on Management and Organizations: An Appeal for Ambidextrous Scholarship," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(1), pages 3-18, January.
    5. Brooks, Chris & Fenton, Evelyn & Schopohl, Lisa & Walker, James, 2019. "Why does research in finance have so little impact?," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 24-52.
    6. Gendron, Yves, 2018. "On the elusive nature of critical (accounting) research," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 1-12.
    7. Davide Secchi & Hong T. M. Bui, 2018. "Group Effects on Individual Attitudes Toward Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 149(3), pages 725-746, May.
    8. Whan Shin & Byungchul Choi, 2022. "Digital Competency, Innovative Medical Research, and Institutional Environment: A Global Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-19, December.
    9. Ryan Trudgen & Susan Freeman, 2014. "Measuring the Performance of Born-Global Firms Throughout Their Development Process: The Roles of Initial Market Selection and Internationalisation Speed," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 54(4), pages 551-579, August.
    10. Davies, Andrew & Manning, Stephan & Söderlund, Jonas, 2018. "When neighboring disciplines fail to learn from each other: The case of innovation and project management research," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(5), pages 965-979.
    11. Agrizzi, Dila & Soobaroyen, Teerooven & Alsalloom, Abeer, 2021. "Spatiality and accounting: The case of female segregation in audit firms," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    12. Erthal, Alice & Frangeskou, Marianna & Marques, Leonardo, 2021. "Cultural tensions in lean healthcare implementation: A paradox theory lens," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    13. Simon Pek, 2019. "Rekindling Union Democracy Through the Use of Sortition," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(4), pages 1033-1051, April.
    14. Joep P. Cornelissen & Rodolphe Durand, 2014. "Moving Forward: Developing Theoretical Contributions in Management Studies," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(6), pages 995-1022, September.
    15. Nchanji, Yvonne Kiki & Ramcilovic-Suominen, Sabaheta & Kotilainen, Juha, 2021. "Power imbalances, social inequalities and gender roles as barriers to true participation in national park management: The case of Korup National Park, Cameroon," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    16. Grisard, Claudine, 2014. "La formation de l'accountability en situations conflictuelles," Economics Thesis from University Paris Dauphine, Paris Dauphine University, number 123456789/13959 edited by Berland, Nicolas.
    17. Guo, Ken H., 2018. "The odyssey of becoming: Professional identity and insecurity in the Canadian accounting field," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 20-45.
    18. Jane Sturges, 2020. "In God's name: Calling, gender and career success in religious ministry," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(6), pages 971-987, November.
    19. Lilas Al‐Asfahani & Gail Hebson & Mike Bresnen, 2024. "Reinforced or disrupted ideal worker norms in the pandemic? Analyzing the gendered impact of the pandemic on professional specialisms in a Professional Services Firm in Kuwait," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(2), pages 644-665, March.
    20. Gendron, Yves & Rodrigue, Michelle, 2021. "On the centrality of peripheral research and the dangers of tight boundary gatekeeping," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:gender:v:29:y:2022:i:4:p:1041-1064. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0968-6673 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.