Diversified Organizational Inequality Regimes and Ideal Workers in a “Growth-Driven,” “Diverse,” “Flexible” Australian Company: A Multilevel Grounded Theory

Beth Turnbull, Melissa Graham and Ann Taket
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Beth Turnbull: Department of Public Health, School of Psychology and Public Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3083, Australia
Melissa Graham: Department of Public Health, School of Psychology and Public Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3083, Australia
Ann Taket: School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood 3125, Australia

Social Sciences, 2022, vol. 11, issue 8, 1-36

Abstract: Interacting global, societal and organizational contexts produce unique organizational inequality regimes. This paper aims to understand multilevel processes influencing gendered, classed, raced and aged inequality regimes and worker hierarchies within “ComCo”, an Australian subsidiary of a multinational company. Our qualitative critical feminist-grounded theory approach triangulated organizational documentation, employee interviews and open-ended questionnaire responses. The emergent theory suggested that ComCo’s globally and societally embedded neoliberal-capitalist–masculine growth imperative produced no longer simplistically one-sided, but multifaceted and diversified masculine–individual–white and feminine–collaborative–colored growth mechanisms, including ideal workers broadening from quantitatively extreme to qualitatively conformant qualities and practices, to constitute not merely unencumbered masculine, but all workers, as existing for company growth. However, feminine–collective–colored mechanisms, co-opted to supporting growth, remained subordinated to masculine–individual–white mechanisms constructed as more effective at delivering growth, reinforcing ComCo’s inequality regimes and worker hierarchies despite diversity initiatives. Organizations must identify and address processes reinforcing inequality regimes to genuinely promote employment equity and diversity.

Keywords: organizational inequality regimes; ideal workers; gender; class; race; age (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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