Skip to main content
Log in

Gender Equity, Organizational Transformation and Challenger

  • Published:
Journal of Business Ethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The concept of the "unlevel playing field" is critiqued for its tendency to take the prevailing masculinist managerial paradigm for granted. Rather than assume that both men and women should assimilate to corporate masculinity, feminist alternatives are suggested. The pervasiveness of the masculine ethic and the "myth of meritocracy" in organizations are reviewed, with the space shuttle Challenger disaster serving as a focal point to demonstrate the dysfunctionality of masculine management and the rationale for feminist-based organizational transformation to promote not only gender equity, but more effective and ethical organizational behavior.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acker, J.: 1990, ‘Hierarchies, Jobs, Bodies: A Theory of Gendered Organizations’, Gender and Society 4(2), 139–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baril, G., N. Elbert, S. Mahar-Potter and G. Reavy: 1989, ‘Are Androgynous Managers Really More Effective?’, Group and Organization Studies 14, 234–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Belenky, M., B. Clinchy, N. Goldberger and J. Tarule: 1986, Women's Ways of Knowing (Basic, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Boffey, P.: 1986, ‘Analyst Who Gave Shuttle Warning Faults “Gung-ho, Can-do” attitude’, The New York Times (February 14), B–4.

  • Boisjoly, R. M.: 1991, ‘Ethical Decision-Making in Organizations: Morton Thiokol and the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster’, GTE Lectureship on Technology and Ethics (Binghamton, N. York, April 18).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradford, D.: 1992, ‘A Level Playing Field? Barriers to the Inclusion of Women and Minorities in Today's Organization’ (unpublished monograph).

  • Burke, R. and C. McKeen: 1990, ‘Mentoring in Organizations: Implications for Women’, Journal of Business Ethics 9, 317–332.

    Google Scholar 

  • Calás, M. and L. Smircich: 1993, ‘Dangerous Liaisons: The “Feminine-in-Management” Meets “Globalization”,’ Business Horizons 36(2).

  • Cann, A. and W. Siegfried: 1987, ‘Sex Stereotypes and the Leadership Role’, Sex Roles 17, 401–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, R. C.: 1991, ‘The NASA Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster: The View From Within’, GTE Lectureship on Technology and Ethics (Binghamton, NY, April 18).

  • David, D. S. and R. Brannon, 1976: The Forty-Nine Percent Majority: The Male Sex Role. Reading (Addison-Wesley, MA).

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of Labor: 1991, A Report on the Glass Ceiling Initiative (U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.).

    Google Scholar 

  • Donnell, S. and J. Hall: 1980, ‘Men and Women as Managers: A Case of No Significant Differences’, Organizational Dynamics 8, 60–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eisler, R.: 1987, The Chalice and the Blade (Harper-Collins, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fagenson, E. (ed.): 1993, Women in Management (Sage, Newbury Park).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, K.: 1984, The Feminist Case Against Bureaucracy (Temple, Philadelphia).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, K.: 1991, ‘Lessons from Challenger’ (Symposium), GTE Lectureship in Technology and Ethics (Binghamton, N. York, April 19).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, A.: 1992, ‘When will Women Get to the Top?’, Fortune (September 21), 44–56.

  • Fondas, N.: 1993, ‘The Feminization of American Management’, Working Paper #93-05 (Graduate School of Management, University of California, Riverside).

    Google Scholar 

  • Franklin, C.: 1988, Men and Society (Nelson-Hall, Chicago).

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, J.: 1979, Women: A Feminist Perspective (2nd ed.) Palo Alto (Mayfield, CA.).

  • Frost, P., V. Mitchell and W. Nord: 1992, Organizational Reality: Reports from the Firing Line(4e) (Harper-Collins, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilligan, C.: 1982, In a Different Voice. (Harvard University Press, Cambridge).

    Google Scholar 

  • Grant, J.: 1988, ‘Women as Managers: What They Can Offer Organizations’, Organizational Dynamics 16, 56–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haccoun, D., G. Sallay and R. Haccoun: 1978, ‘Sex Differences in the Appropriateness of Managerial Styles: A Non-Management View’, Journal of Applied Psychology 63, 124–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hare-Mustin, R. T.: 1988, ‘Family Change and Gender Differences: Implications for Theory and Practice’, Family Relations 37, 36–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hearn, J., D. Sheppard, P. Tancred-Sheriff and G. Burrell: 1989, The Sexuality of Organization (Sage, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • Helgesen, S.: 1990, The Female Advantage: Women's Ways of Leading (Doubleday, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hochschild, A.: 1989, The Second Shift (Viking, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, J. and L. Hunt: 1987, ‘Male Resistance to Role symmetry in Dual-Earner Households’, in N. Gerstel and H. Gross, Families and Work (Temple, Philadelphia), pp. 192–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Josefowitz, N.: 1980, Paths to Power (Addison-Wesley, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanter, R. M.: 1977, Men and Women of the Corporation (Basic, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimmel, M.: 1993, ‘What Do Men Want?’, Harvard Business Review 71(6), 50–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Korabik, K. and R. Ayman: 1989, ‘Should Women Managers Have to Act Like Men?’, Journal of Management Development 8(6), 23–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lorber, J. 1983, ‘Trust, Loyalty and the Place of Women in the Informal Organization of Work’, in J. Freeman (ed.), op cit, pp. 370–378.

  • Luthans, F.: 1988, ‘Successful vs. Effective Real Managers’, Academy of Management Executive 2(2), 127–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maier, M.: 1994, ‘Glass Ceilings, Glass Prisons: Reflections on the Gender Barrier’, The Diversity Factor 2(3), 32–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maier, M.: 1993a, ‘Revisiting (and Resolving?) the Androgyny/ Masculinity Debate in Management’, Journal of Men's Studies 2(2), 157–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maier, M.: 1993b, ‘The Gender Prism’, Journal of Management Education 17(3), 285–314.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maier, M.: 1993c, ‘“Am I the Only One Who Wants to Launch?” Corporate Masculinity and the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster’, Masculinities 1(1–2), 34–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maier, M. (Writer/Director): 1992, ‘A Major Malfunction...’ The Story Behind the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster. A Pedagogical Documentary about Organizational Politics, Ethics and Decision-Making. [Videotape and Instructional Materials] (The Research Foundation of the State University of New York, Albany, NY).

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, J.: 1990. ‘Deconstructing Organizational Taboos: The Suppression of Gender Conflict in Organizations’, Organization Science 1(4), 339–359.

    Google Scholar 

  • McConnell, M.: 1987, Challenger: A Major Malfunction (Doubleday, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • McConnell, A. J.: 1992, ‘Personal Communication’, July 1.

  • Morrison, A. and M. Von Glinow: 1990, ‘Women and Minorities in Management’, American Psychologist 45, 200–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mulloy, L.: 1991, ‘Personal Communication.’ May 15.

  • Mulloy, L.: 1990, ‘Interview Transcript, Cosgrove-Meurer Productions (The Story Behind the Story). Courtesy of Larry Mulloy’ (No date specified.)

  • Parasumaran, S. and J. Greenhaus: 1993, ‘Personal Portrait: The Lifestyle of the Woman Manager’, in E. Fagenson (ed.), op cit., pp. 186–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parsons, T. and R. Bales: 1955, Family, Socialization and Interaction Processes (Free Press, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry, E., A. Davis-Blake and C. Kulik: 1994, ‘Explaining Gender-Based Selection Decisions’, Academy of Management Review 19(4), 786–820.

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell, G.: 1990, ‘One More Time: Do Male and Female Managers Differ?’, Academy of Management Executive 4(4), 68–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ragins, B. and E. Sundstrom: 1989, ‘Gender and Power in Organizations’, Psychological Bulletin 105, 51–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, J.: 1988, ‘New Paradigm Leadership: Integrating the Female Ethos’, Journal of the National Association of Women Deans, Administrators and Counselors 5(9), 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, W.: 1986, Report on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident (U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosener, J.: 1990, ‘Ways Women Lead’, Harvard Business Review 68(6), 119–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pleck, J.: 1977, ‘The Work-Family Role System’, Social Problems 24(4), 417–427.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sargent, A.: 1981, The Androgynous Manager (American Management Association Communications (AMACOM), New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, F.: 1989, ‘Management Women and the New Facts of Life’, Harvard Business Review 67(1), 65–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, P. and S. Smits: 1994, ‘The Feminization of Leadership?’, Training and Development Journal 48(2), 43–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spender, D.: 1984, ‘Defining Reality: A Powerful Tool’, in C. Kramarae, M. Schulz and W. O'Barr (eds.),’ Language and Power (Sage, Beverly Hills), pp. 194–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tannen, D.: 1990, You Just Don't Understand (Ballantine, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Tharenou, P., S. Latimer and D. Conroy: 1994, ‘How Do You Make It to the Top? An Examination of Influences on Women's and Men's Managerial Advancement’, Academy of Management Journal 37(4), 899–931.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vinnicombe, S.: 1985, ‘What Exactly Are The Differences in Male and Female Managerial Styles?’, Women in Management Review 3(1), 13–21.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Maier, M. Gender Equity, Organizational Transformation and Challenger. Journal of Business Ethics 16, 943–962 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017943505486

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017943505486

Keywords

Navigation