#MeToo and beyond: inequality and injustice in marketing practice and academia

In this introduction to the special section on the future of the Australasian marketing academy, we reflect on the rapidly changing academic environment and the challenges and priorities this raises for the marketing discipline. Specifically, we consider the value of marketing education and research to stakeholders, how marketing can contribute to emerging challenges across business and society, how the marketing academy can amplify marginalised voices and be more inclusive, and the health and wellbeing of marketing academics. Next, we present key findings from research we conducted to examine issues of equity, inclusion and wellbeing within the Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy (ANZMAC) member environment. We highlight which problems persist and where change is needed to challenge exclusionary dynamics and foster a more inclusive academy. To unpack and draw further attention to these issues, we then introduce the six papers that comprise the special section. Collectively, these papers present provocations on the future of the Australasian marketing academy and invite you to consider where we should be headed and what actions must be taken.

Section: Marketing Academia: a Changing Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Future of the Australasian Marketing Academy: Challenges and Priorities

Gurrieri

Reid

2022

“…Three of the 17 SDGs-SDG 10, 14, and 16-were not examined by studies in the consumer stream. This is surprising given that marketing scholars have been urging marketers to consider ways to reduce, rather than increase inequalities (SDGs 10) (Prothero & Tadajewski, 2021). Life below water has a direct impact on industries dependent on marine life and ecosystems (such as shipping and fishing) and provides a rich field for exploration.…”

Section: Sdg Focus and Integrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

How are consumer behavior and marketing strategy researchers incorporating the SDGs? A review and opportunities for future research

Voola

Bandyopadhyay²,

Azmat

et al. 2022

Increasing environmental challenges together with irresponsible consumption and production practices call for marketing research focused on sustainability. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a framework for marketers to operationalize sustainability and to build awareness and shape consumers’ as well as businesses’ views about responsible consumerism and sustainability. As the SDG framework continues to influence marketing literature and practice, it is important to take stock of how consumer and marketing strategy scholars have engaged with the SDGs since their announcement in 2015. To this end, we undertake a systematic literature review of 41 papers published in premier marketing journals that explicitly engage with the SDGs. The review identifies several gaps in the marketing literature that provide a basis for identifying future research opportunities. We argue that engaging with these research opportunities provides a transformational opportunity for marketing scholars to positively impact society.

“…Gender in equity in academia is systematic, systemic and structural (Prothero & Tadajewski, 2021; Zietsma, 2021), with efforts to improve it respectively called ‘performative allyship’ (Green & Barbara, 1997). This performance, in which non-marginalised groups profess ‘support and solidarity with a marginalized group, but in a way that is not helpful’ (Kalina, 2020, p. 478), is ‘more talk than action’ (Khan et al, 2019, p. 594), or reduced to a ‘box that needs to be checked’ (Dobscha & Ostberg, 2021, p. 181).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is these material and affective informal and formal work practices in the marketing academy where systematic, systemic and structural inequities are experienced. Prothero and Tadajewski (2021) suggest that ‘change is likely to require substantive reorientation within and among institutions’ in marketing academia (p. 3). Traditionally, higher education has collectively focussed on changing social and cultural biases by reporting or taking action against discrimination; undertaking professional development to become more confident or assertive; and attempting to navigate sticky floors, avoid glass cliffs and break glass ceilings.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender Equity in the Marketing Academy: From Performative to Institutional Allyship

Dobele

Ferguson

Hartman

et al. 2021

The fair treatment of women in the workplace, where they experience both opportunities and constraints, has been on and off higher education agendas for decades. Yet, institutionalised gendered constraints still shape the careers of female academics, including those in the marketing academy, resulting in disrupted or obstacle-heavy career journeys and the underrepresentation of women in senior positions. Furthermore, progress towards gender equity is hampered by institutional resistance to change, favouring performative rather than genuine and transformational institutional allyship. We draw upon personal experiences, recollections and anecdotes garnered over the years – synthesised with literature – to examine systemic gendered constraints within our collective career span. We propose institutional allyship as the intentional efforts needed by the marketing academy to address systemic and structural gender inequities and achieve second-order change by integrating gender equity outcomes throughout organisational decision-making. Specifically, we suggest nominated actions within a Gender Equity and Inclusion Charter for the Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy (ANZMAC) and its member universities as a first step.