An Examination of the Role Women Whistleblowers

Abstract

<p>Previous studies discuss the subject of whistleblowing by women and the consequences of retaliation. However an examination of the past and current research is needed to gain a more thorough understanding of this complex issue and how the women are viewed, and how the topic is evolving. As a starting point the purpose is to examine whistleblowing with a focus on women’s roles as well as the various legislation initiatives and global progress toward minimizing retaliation. The author investigates prior research in the areas of women whistle blowers, and adds current whistleblowers of note. This research review and derived information to encourage change will prove interesting in contributing further material for those embroiled in this issue. This work contributes to the existing literature by adding further insight into the areas of anti-retaliation progress and how society views women whistleblowers. Furthermore it evidences that women continue to demonstrate courage in standing up for ethics in the workplace in spite of persistent retaliation.</p>

To blow the whistle in Brazil: The impact of gender and public service motivation

“…As the first systematic exploration of the incidence of wrongdoing, whistleblowing, and retaliation in Brazil's federal governmentand one of very few such studies outside of high-income democracies (Mitchell 2016)this work makes an important contribution to better understanding the role of gender in whistleblowing. Previous studies on gender have resulted in conflicting findings (see Rehg et al 2008;Tilton 2017), motivating calls for further investigation (Culiberg & Mihelic ˇ2017).…”

“…It is amply clear that the cost-benefit calculus of blowing the whistle is heavier for women in terms of potential costs (Rehg et al 2008;Caillier 2012). For example, Kaplan et al (2009) find that women are more likely to perceive the personal costs of reporting to an internal auditor as greater than men; and women respond more intensely than do men to possible whistleblowing repercussions (Sims & Keenan 1998;Mitchell 2016). In line with the notion that whistleblowing imposes higher costs on women, evidence suggests that women value provisions that guarantee confidentiality and anti-retaliation more so than men (Feldman & Lobel 2009;Tilton 2017).…”

“…Rehg et al 2008;Cho & Song 2015;Etienne 2015;Nyreröd & Spagnolo 2019). However, most whistleblowing research focuses on high-income democracies (see Miceli & Near 2013;Mitchell 2016). A deficit of studies on lower to middle-income countries is worrying; governance challenges are rife in these societies (Kaufmann, Kraay, & Mastruzzi, 2011); and diverse cultural norms complicate the extrapolation of findings from advanced democracies.…”

“…Understanding gender differences in whistleblowing perceptions and practices is a basal point of departure, especially important because of the imperative of promoting gender equality, a priority encapsulated in the United Nations' Millennium Development Goal Target 3.A. We have an obligation to create whistleblowing policy designs that maximize effectiveness for both genders (Mitchell 2016;Tilton 2017); and the principal problem in this sense is that women appear less likely to blow the whistle and more likely to suffer retaliation than men (Miceli et al 2008). At the same time, however, findings on whistleblowing and gender remain unconsolidated; as Tilton (2017) reminds us, "a satisfying answer to the question of whether men or women are, on the whole, more likely to blow the whistle does not emerge from retrospective work on actual whistleblowing […]."…”

Introduction. Gender and corruption: the role of norms

“…However, some argue that women are more likely to report corruption because discrimination against them makes their position more insecure, and that due to these social norms women are held to higher standards and are often punished more harshly for rule breaking than men (Esarey and Chirillo 2013). Another explanation could be the difference in the socialization of girls and boys, which encourages girls to behave "properly", while boys are more rewarded for forceful behaviours (Mitchell 2016).…”