Glass ceilings, glass cliffs or new worlds?

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to set out some contextual issues in relation to the achievements of women accountants and academics. Design/methodology/approach -This is a discussion paper that uses academic and professional experiences as a basis from which to draw out an agenda for further study. Findings -It is found that, despite changes over the last 30 years, the lived experience of women in accounting and academia is evidence that their academic and professional opportunities are still constrained. Two papers in this special issue offer feminist approaches to enrich study in the area, and it is argued that gender is an element that should be embedded in research in accounting. Research limitations/implications -This editorial is a selective review and is not intended as a comprehensive review of research in the field. Practical implications -The paper seeks to re-ignite more research in the field, using a richer range of approaches. Originality/value -The paper sets an agenda for research and provides an argument as to why the agenda needs to be pursued.

The Accounting Profession and the Female Gender in Ghana

“…Many people in Ghana and the world generally assume the accounting profession as one reserved for men (Kirkham, et al 2008). The profession undoubtedly, is one of the physically, socially and psychologically tasking professions in the world today.…”

Gender inequality and disabled inclusivity in accounting higher education and the accounting profession during financial crises

“…The corporate world and academia usually apply a discriminatory strategy (paying lower wages to women compared to men for the same work) to minimize labor costs and increase their profits (Hausmann et al, 2010;OECD, 2012). The wage gap has been prominent in the accounting profession for decades (Broadbent and Kirkham, 2008). One major factor responsible for the structured inequality in accounting is its male dominance (Hooks and Cheramy, 1988;Pillsbury et al, 1989;Ciancanelli et al, 1990;Lehman, 1992;Street et al, 1993;Spruill and Wootton, 1995;Fogarty, 1997;Lowe et al, 2001;Anderson-Gough et al, 2005).…”

“…Existing literature provides evidence of the importance of women's participation in the professional world and of the discrimination between women and men in the workplace (Loft, 1992;Maupin and Lehman, 1994;Broadbent and Kirkham, 2008;Kmec and Gorman, 2010;Lehman, 2012). The corporate world and academia usually apply a discriminatory strategy (paying lower wages to women compared to men for the same work) to minimize labor costs and increase their profits (Hausmann et al, 2010;OECD, 2012).…”

“…It is also a substantive issue in accounting and remains a concern for the accounting academic community (Broadbent and Kirkham, 2008). Most of the existing studies provide various theories and methodologies to explain gender inequality in accounting profession (e.g., Loft, 1992;Kirkham and Loft, 1993;Lupu, 2012;Adapa et al 2016).…”

Gender essentialism and occupational segregation in insolvency practice

“…Women continue to report that opportunities for advancement are often constrained. Revealing their experiences continues to be a key object of the research agenda on accounting and gender, and a potential source of its radicalisation (Broadbent & Kirkham, 2008;Haynes, 2008).…”