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Organizational Conflict, Technology and Space: A Swedish Case Study of the Gender System and the Economic System in Action
Author(s) -
Sundin Elisabeth
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
gender, work and organization
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.159
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1468-0432
pISSN - 0968-6673
DOI - 10.1111/1468-0432.00044
Subject(s) - surprise , division of labour , action (physics) , space (punctuation) , rationality , outcome (game theory) , masculinity , transition (genetics) , sociology , psychology , social psychology , economics , political science , gender studies , computer science , microeconomics , law , operating system , physics , quantum mechanics , biochemistry , chemistry , gene
The aim of this article is to show how the existing gender division of labour in an organization, the Department for Topographical Maps at the Swedish National Survey, was disrupted by the implementation of new technology, namely CAD (Computer Aided Design)‐equipment. In this case the new technology was given to the female draughtpersons, not the male engineers, a surprising outcome considering the close relations between masculinity and technology often stated and proved. The explanation seems to be that space in this case was the most important factor in the organizational gender constructions. The outcome was a surprise to management. Most employees, both men and women, resisted the transition but for different reasons. The economic rationality was strong enough to change the gender division of labour but not strong enough to prevent the gender regime from remaining.