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Why gender and ‘difference’ matters: a critical appraisal of industrial relations research
Author(s) -
Holgate Jane,
Hebson Gail,
McBride Anne
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
industrial relations journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.525
H-Index - 3
eISSN - 1468-2338
pISSN - 0019-8692
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-2338.2006.00406.x
Subject(s) - reflexivity , intersectionality , critical appraisal , sociology , field (mathematics) , industrial relations , gender relations , key (lock) , work (physics) , gender studies , epistemology , political science , social science , law , computer science , medicine , mechanical engineering , philosophy , alternative medicine , mathematics , computer security , pathology , pure mathematics , engineering
Through a critical rereading of key UK workplace case studies this article explores why gender analysis matters to studies of people at work. We argue that the field of industrial relations could benefit from a greater engagement with feminist‐influenced methodologies. In particular, we analyse three methodological approaches that can assist in understanding the lives of workers; a framework that recognises intersectionality; an account that accommodates both material and cultural explanations; and a research process that is reflexive and recognises positionality. These are identified as intrinsic to a gender‐sensitive analysis, and through a comparison of key texts it is possible to highlight why their absence leads to much research in this field remaining ‘gender blind’.