In the steps of Joan Acker: A journey in researching inequality regimes and intersectional inequalities

Abstract

Inspired by two of Acker's interconnected concepts, inequality regimes and intersectionality, the authors revisit their intersectional research. By exploring their various studies on inequality regimes and intersectionality, the authors propose some novel insights that have emerged from an aggregate appraisal of some 17 empirically researched papers, all shaped by Joan Acker's sociology. While Acker's work on gender and organizations has provided crucial insights into much of this work, this article concentrates on the overarching concept of inequality regimes and then focuses in on less-developed aspects of intersectionality in Acker's work. In doing so, it reconsiders the value of inequality regimes in pushing the boundaries of intersectional insights.

A “quota silo” or positive equality reach? The equality impact of gender quotas on corporate boards in Norway

“…Acker's (2006a, 2006b) and others (e.g., Healy et al, 2019; Nkomo & Rodriguez, 2019) emphasised the importance of the organisational contexts and influenced by Ng and Sears's (2017) study, we investigated if foreign‐owned companies were more likely to avoid the Quota. Given Norway's egalitarian culture, resistance to initiatives such as quotas might be expected to be lower among Norwegian owners compared to foreign owners.…”

“…Our investigation of the Quota experience in all Norwegian PLC and limited companies uses Acker's (2006a, 2006b) analytical framework of inequality regimes, which emphasises uneven power relations and their consequent effects on inequality, privilege and HR processes and practices (Healy et al, 2019; Healy, Bradley, & Forson, 2011; Murray & Syed, 2010; Nkomo & Rodriguez, 2019). Acker's inequality regimes are rarely used in WoB literature, although she saw quotas as a potential “solution” to inequality, while warning they often fail to challenge inequalities in a capitalist economy ( 2006b ) .…”

“…In this study, macro analysis, influenced by Layder (1993), includes gender values and composition of company boards in Norway, whereas the meso level relates to organisational processes and practices through women directors' experiences of boards. Fundamental is Acker's (2006b) position that inequality regimes are highly variable, fluid and changing and their reproduction linked to inequality in the surrounding society, its politics, history and culture as well as the systems, norms and culture of an organisation as evidenced in Healy et al (2019).…”

“…The article responds to calls for studies to utilise Acker's ideas to scrutinise key issues in management and organisation studies (e.g., Healy et al, 2019; Nkomo & Rodriguez, 2019). It particularly contributes important new insights on the wider effects of compulsory interventions revealing a quota silo, and offers a conceptual development of inequality regimes by adding “equality reach” as integral to the analysis of quotas and other equality interventions.…”

Equality and Gender at Work in Islam: The Case of the Berber Population of the High Atlas Mountains

“…Organizations as gendered processes rely on different interlocking practices, processes, and symbolic expressions of gendering (Acker, 1990). Acker (2006Acker ( , 2012 uses an intersectional approach to study the underlying inequality-producing mechanisms that drive the "unequal symbolic allocation of recognition, power and status between men and women" (Healy et al, 2019(Healy et al, : 1751.…”