Ineffective Critical Mass

Frank Lefley () and Václav Janeček ()
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Frank Lefley: University of Hradec Králové, Faculty of Informatics and Management
Václav Janeček: University of Hradec Králové, Faculty of Informatics and Management

Chapter 9 in Board Gender Diversity and Critical Mass Theory, 2026, pp 229-243 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract Critical mass is all about the numbers, as shown in the extensive and up-to-date articles referenced earlier. Critical mass, therefore, misses the mark, as it does not take into account the fact that women may have other motives/objectives and loyalties which result in them not working as a “collective action” as the theory suggests. Identity structures may also play a part, resulting in individuals being placed into demographic categories based on similarities and differences within and between category boundaries (Randel, 2002). The critical mass theory assumes that women need to work as a collective action, but is this always the case? In this chapter, which extends our earlier work (Lefley & Janeček, 2025), we examine and find theoretical support for the qualitative factors that contribute to the ineffectiveness of a critical mass. It embraces the theoretical concepts of intersectionality, contextual moderators, and power dynamics concerning gender. While these theoretical concepts were initially thought to relate only to gender differences (the differences between men and women), a closer examination reveals that they can equally be applied to explaining the differences between women themselves, especially concerning identity: age, culture, race, ethnicity, social identity, loyalty, etc., and contribute to an ineffective critical mass.

Date: 2026
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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-13608-4_9

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