NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Gendered challenge, gendered response: confronting the ideal worker norm in a white-collar organization.

Kelly EL; Ammons SK; Chermack K; Moen P

Gend Soc 2010 Jun; 24(3):281-303

https://doi.org/10.1177/0891243210372073

20042149

This article integrates research on gendered organizations and the work-family interface to investigate an innovative workplace initiative, the Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE), implemented in the corporate headquarters of Best Buy, Inc. While flexible work policies common in other organizations "accommodate" individuals, this initiative attempts a broader and deeper critique of the organizational culture. We address two research questions: How does this initiative attempt to change the masculinized ideal worker norm? And what do women's and men's responses reveal about the persistent ways that gender structures work and family life? Data demonstrate the ideal worker norm is pervasive and powerful, even as employees begin critically examining expectations regarding work time that have historically privileged men. Employees' responses to ROWE are also gendered. Women (especially mothers) are more enthusiastic, while men are more cautious. Ambivalence about and resistance to change is expressed in different ways depending on gender and occupational status.

Workers; Behavior; Employees; Work-operations; Work-organization; Work-practices; Job-analysis; Men; Women; Workplace-studies; Psychological-responses; Attitude; Families; Author Keywords: work/family; work/occupations; culture

Erin L. Kelly, Department of Sociology, University of Minnesota, 909 Social Sciences, 267 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455

20100601

Journal Article

kelly101@umn.edu

Cooperative Agreement

2010

Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U01-OH-008788

3

0891-2432

Gender & Society

MN; NE

Portland State University