Gender Bias in Organisations: From the Arts to Individualised Coaching

143 Pages·2021·9.705 MB·English

by  Gillian Danby, Malgorzata Ciesielska

i
Gender Bias in Organisations

Government and organisational policies are not enough to challenge
socially constructed expectations towards gender. Arts- based methods
derived from sense- making, metaphors and storytelling can support
women in modifying behaviours triggered by gender stereotype threat
and help them cope better in the gendered workplace.
The aim of this book is to challenge the contemporary approach
of mainstreaming gender in organisations. Starting with individuals’
life stories and workplace experiences to understand the common
challenges for individuals and organisations, the authors review how
women respond to those challenges through strategic choice and
consequences both for the individual and the organisational impact.
This book presents two types of arts-i nspired workshops: sensory and
metaphorical engagement as well as storytelling theatre.
Gender Bias in Organisations: From the Arts to Individualised
Coaching discusses how gender mainstreaming initiatives have failed
and proposes an individualised coaching approach based on arts-b ased
methodology for mediating gender stereotype in the workplace. It will
be of interest to researchers, academics and students in the areas of
gender, work and organisation.
Dr Gillian Danby is the Owner/M anaging Director of Artistry in
Leadership based in the UK and is an Associate Lecturer at Northumbria
University.
Dr Malgorzata Ciesielska is Associate Professor of Organisation Studies
and Deputy Head of Leadership & HRM Department at Northumbria
University.
ii
Routledge Focus on Business and Management

The fields of business and management have grown exponentially as
areas of research and education. This growth presents challenges for
readers trying to keep up with the latest important insights. Routledge
Focus on Business and Management presents small books on big topics
and how they intersect with the world of business research.
Individually, each title in the series provides coverage of a key aca-
demic topic, whilst collectively, the series forms a comprehensive
collection across the business disciplines.
Fearless Leadership
Managing Fear, Leading with Courage and Strengthening Authenticity
Morten Novrup Henriksen and Thomas Lundby
Clusters, Digital Transformation and Regional Development
in Germany
Marta Götz
Gender Bias in Organisations
From the Arts to Individualised Coaching
Gillian Danby and Malgorzata Ciesielska
Entrepreneurship Development in India
Debasish Biswas and Chanchal Dey
Creating Business and Corporate Strategy
An Integrated Strategic System
Adyl Aliekperov
For more information about this series, please visit: www.routledge.com/
Routledge- Focus- on- Business- and- Management/ book- series/ FBM
iii
Gender Bias in Organisations

From the Arts to Individualised
Coaching
Gillian Danby and
Malgorzata Ciesielska
iv
First published 2021
by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2021 Taylor & Francis
The right of Gillian Danby and Malgorzata Ciesielska to be identified as
author[/ s] of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with
sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised
in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or
hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information
storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without
intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-i n- Publication Data
A catalog record for this title has been requested
ISBN: 978- 0- 367- 86278- 7 (hbk)
ISBN: 978- 1- 032- 03891- 9 (pbk)
ISBN: 978- 1- 003- 01811- 7 (ebk)
Typeset in Times New Roman
by Newgen Publishing UK
v
To my mum, Hanna, who taught me to be ambitious and chase

my dreams.
Dr Malgorzata Ciesielska
To my parents Charles and Dorothy who encouraged me at a
young age to be involved in the arts through dance, music and
to engage in the theatre.
Dr Gillian Danby
They would all be very proud of our achievement in this book.
vi
vii
Contents

List of Figure ix
List of Tables x
List of Images xi
List of Poems xii
List of Vignettes xiii
About the Authors xiv
Preface xv
1 Towards Workplace Gender Equality: An Introduction 1
1.1 Social and Economic Participation of Women 1
1.2 Potential of Arts- based Methods in Supporting
Workplace Equality 4
1.3 Theories Supporting an Arts- based Methods Approach 6
1.3.1 Sense- making 7
1.3.2 Reflexive Practice 8
1.4 Our Arts- inspired Research Design 9
1.4.1 Data Collection and Analysis 9
1.4.2 Participants 10
2 Promises and Pitfalls of Gender Mainstreaming 12
2.1 Responses to Gender Inequality in the Workplace 12
2.1.1 Policies, Systems and Processes 13
2.1.2 Human Resource Development and Gender 14
2.1.3 Management Theories and Practice 16
2.2 What Is Wrong with Gender Mainstreaming? 17
2.3 So What Next? 22
3 Gendered Behaviour and Career Pathways 24
3.1 The Social Construct of Gender 24
3.1.1 Social Role Theory 26
viii
viii Contents
3.2 Influences of Gendered Roles 27
3.2.1 Education and Career Influences 28
3.3 Gender Stereotypes in the Workplace 31
3.3.1 Gender Stereotype Threat and Its Implications 32
3.4 Gender Stereotypes, Leadership Style and Career
Advancement 35
3.4.1 Balancing Agentic and Communal Attributes 35
3.4.2 Setting High Standards 39
3.4.3 Early Career Influences 42
3.4.4 Organisational Culture 43
3.5 Impact on Career Pathways 47
4 Workshops and Their Outcomes 50
4.1 Workshop Design 50
4.1.1 Workshop One – ‘Sense- making’ 50
4.1.2 Workshop Two – ‘Mythodrama’ 53
4.2 Insights from the Workshops and Post- workshop Interviews 56
4.2.1 Creating a Safe Place to Explore Gender 57
4.2.2 Self- developed Learning 59
4.2.3 The Emotional Impact of Gendered Behaviours 61
4.2.4 Facing the Gender Stereotype Threat 62
4.2.4.1 Reaffirmation of Self- worth 64
4.2.4.2 Increased Self- efficacy 67
4.3 Evaluation and Room for Improvement 71
5 Moving Forward: Gender, Arts- Based Interventions and
Coaching 75
5.1 The Concept of ‘Self’ and ‘Others’ 76
5.2 From Workshops and Interviews to Coaching Interventions 78
5.3 Positive Psychology in Coaching 79
5.4 Narrative and Storytelling 81
5.5 Metaphor 83
5.6 Mindfulness and Sensory Engagement 85
5.7 Concluding Reflections 86
5.8 The Future 88
Appendix 1: C ase Studies 90
Appendix 2: G lossary of Key Terms 109
References 110
Index 121
ix
Figure

1.1 M ale and female employment rates: UK, January
1971– March 2020 (ONS, 2020) 3