‘I Wanted More Women in, but . . .’: Oblique Resistance to Gender Equality Initiatives

Abstract

Despite many interventions designed to change the gender demographics of positional leadership roles in organizations and professions, women continue to be under-represented in most arenas. Here we explore gender equality (GE) interventions through the example of positive discrimination quotas in politics to develop an understanding of resistance to them. Our case is the British Labour Party, analysing interviews with the people who designed, implemented and resisted the system of all-women shortlists. We develop the notion of ‘oblique resistance’ to describe an indirect form of resistance to the erosion of patriarchal power, which never directly confronts the issue of GE, yet actively undermines it. Oblique resistance is practised in three key ways: through appeals to ethics, by marking territory and in appeals to convention. We conclude by considering the conceptual and practical implications of oblique resistance, when direct and more overt resistance to GE is increasingly socially unacceptable.

When Values and Ethics of Care Conflict: A Lived Experience in the Roman Catholic Church

“…Esther's perception of gendered norms in the church suggests she experiences difficulty in establishing her authority in this particular parish. This article contributes to previous research on conventional resistance to the erosion of patriarchal power (Smolović Jones et al, 2020) as we found overt resistance of the priests in accepting Esther as a female lay leader.…”

Progress, but at the Expense of Male Power? Institutional Resistance to Gender Equality in an Irish University

“…The challenges in promoting gender equality in higher educational institutions have been identified in many studies (e.g. Benschop and Verloo, 2006 ; Lombardo and Mergaert, 2013 ; Burkinshaw and White, 2017 ; O’Connor, 2020a ; Smolovic Jones et al, 2020 ; Powell et al; Peterson et al, 2021 ). Building on Agócs (1997) conceptualization, the contribution of this article lies in an enhanced understanding of institutionalized resistance to gender equality as a manifestation of stealth power, reflected in a refusal to accept responsibility for dealing with change and the failure to implement aspects of a change agenda, both indicating an unwillingness to recognize that institutional transformation is required.…”

“…The difficulty of creating gender equality in universities is well documented, (e.g. Burkinshaw and White, 2017;O'Connor, 2020a), with institutionalized resistance theorized as fundamental to understanding diluted, slow or no implementation of gender equality measures (Agócs, 1997;Benschop and Verloo, 2006;Lombardo and Mergaert, 2013;Powell et al;Peterson et al, 2021;Strategaki, 2005;Smolovic Jones et al, 2020). Since gender equality challenges a powerful patriarchial order, such resistance is not unexpected.…”

“…It takes many forms, overt and covert, actively or passively exercised (the latter through non-action and indifference). Gender equality can become difficult to challenge and can become more hidden and oblique, leading to a complex “dance” between overt and covert resistance ( Smolovic Jones et al, 2020 ). However such distinctions may be less relevant in the noisy, contradictory world of organizations ( Fleming and Spicer, 2008 ).…”

“…Studies of resistance to transformative gender mainstreaming in public administration identify denial of the need for change and refusal to accept responsibility for change ( Lombardo and Mergaert, 2013 ). Smolovic Jones et al (2020) in a study of the British Labor party, identifies idealistic notions of absolute meritocracy combined with micropolitical practices involving localized decision-making, and the unreflexive enactment of long-established norms about suitable candidates for appointment as institutional resistance.…”