The famous book from Facebook Chief Operations Officer Sheryl Sandberg, Lean In, encourages women to lean in and go the extra mile in order to rise through organizational hierarchies into leadership. The underlying message is that it is up to women to adapt to their organization.
Underlying this message is the assumption that organizations provide the same opportunities and resources to women and men.
In this article in the Conversation (in French), I examine this assumption and conclude that it does not hold. Drawing on my own research with women leaders in Canada, I show how organizational processes are systemically gendered in ways that disadvantage women. Accordingly, addressing gender inequalities requires moving beyond lean-in and developing ways to un-gender organizations.
What are your thoughts and experiences?
Picture adapted from Länsmuseet Gävleborg.
