Who is seen to be doing business research, and does it really matter? Gender representation at academic conferences

Abstract

PurposeGender inequality is evident in many academic practices, but research has often focused on the male-dominated science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. This study responds to calls for more work in the business disciplines which have been overlooked by comparison and focuses on academic conferences as a higher education practice. Conferences are manifestations of the research being conducted within the discipline, representing the type of knowledge that is considered valuable, and who the thought leaders are considered to be. This study investigates whether equal representation of women at such conferences really matters, to whom and why.Design/methodology/approachThe research was designed using a critical feminist theory approach. An online survey was disseminated to academic staff and postgraduate students in the 25 top ranked business schools in Australia and New Zealand. A total of 452 responses were received, and thematic analysis was applied to open-ended responses.FindingsEqual representation does matter, for two sets of reasons. The first align with feminist theory perspectives of “equal opportunity” (gender is neutral), “difference” (gender is celebrated) or “post-equity” (the social construction of gender itself is problematic). The second are pragmatic consequences, namely the importance of role modelling, career building and the respect and recognition that come with conference attendance and visible leadership roles.Social implicationsThe findings have implications in regards to job satisfaction, productivity and the future recruitment and retention of women in academia. Furthermore, in areas where women are not researching, the questions and issues that are important to them are not receiving the attention they deserve, and this gender data gap has consequences for society at large.Originality/valueThis study moves beyond simply identifying the under-representation of women at academic conferences in yet another field, to investigate why equal representation is important and to whom. It provides valuable evidence of the consequences of under-representation, as perceived by academics themselves.

The role of academic conferences in the [re]production of gender inequality in business disciplines: not just a STEM problem

“…Second, a number of participant responses suggest that gender identity influences the topics on which an academic undertakes research. While we view stereotypical gendered research topics to be problematic, we do acknowledge that women's absence or under-representation at conferences as keynote speakers excludes and/or marginalises their research work, viewpoints and experiences, with adverse consequences for other women as well as the broader society (Walters et al , 2020):[Women's] research is more social and community centred rather than corporate -profit-oriented that men pursue (Female Lecturer, Marketing)Women research different issues and approaches to research (Female Senior Lecturer, Management).…”

“…Overall, then, this analysis reveals that academic conferences convey a common understanding of how their discipline is “put together” and how it “works”: men should be (and are) the keynote speakers and visible experts. Importantly, it also highlights gendered differences in the perception of who holds these roles which may have potential negative consequences for women's intentions to remain in academia (Biggs et al , 2018; Walters et al , 2020).…”

“…In so doing, we have also contributed to Dashper and Finkel's recent (2020) appeal to bring gender to the fore in critical event studies. We add our voices to those of other researchers: we can no longer ignore the mounting evidence of the role that academic conferences play in the perpetuation of gender inequality in the business disciplines, or that redressing gender equality is just a job for women (Munar et al , 2015; Walters, 2018; Walters et al , 2020). Now that we have identified the underlying processes by which academic conferences [re]produce deeply embedded gendered patterns of interaction and informal norms within the business disciplines, we can begin to dismantle the system.…”

“…Far less work has been done on gender within the business disciplines (Reilly et al , 2016), thus suggesting by omission that gender-related issues do not exist – or at least are not prevalent enough to warrant attention. This is not the case, however, as the limited studies which do exist echo the literature on gender in other academic disciplines (Reilly et al , 2016; Walters et al , 2020), and we present a brief overview here to provide necessary context for our study.…”

“…As practices that significantly aid the dissemination of one's research and the formation, maintenance and/or extension of networks, conferences contribute to tenure and academic career progression. However, through the choice of topic areas, keynote speakers and other visible experts, conferences represent the norms of a discipline area and what is considered to be “of value” (Walters et al , 2020). Researchers are increasingly drawing attention to the role of conferences in legitimising the academic hierarchy and gender inequality (Pereira, 2017; Ford and Harding, 2010; Henderson and Burford, 2020).…”