Joan Acker – Gendered Organizations | Intersectionality and Structural Gender Inequality

Why are organizations not gender-neutral, and how do hidden organizational structures shape women's career opportunities? This explainer video introduces the key theoretical insights from Joan Acker's influential work Hierarchies, Jobs, Bodies: A Theory of Gendered Organizations (1990). Acker argues that gender inequality is not simply the result of individual prejudice. Instead, it is embedded in organizational hierarchies, work arrangements, career structures, and cultural expectations. The video explores the concept of “Gendered Organizations”, highlighting how seemingly neutral organizational systems often reflect historically masculine assumptions about work and leadership. A central example is the ideal of the constantly available worker (“Ideal Worker”), which can disadvantage employees with caregiving and family responsibilities. Acker's theory also provides an important foundation for examining how organizational inequalities can intersect with different social identities and for developing broader intersectional perspectives on workplace equality. The video highlights why Fair Leadership, inclusive organizational structures, and the critical examination of power relations and career systems are essential for achieving sustainable gender equality. Part of the knowledge series: Fair Leadership and Female Careers – Gender Equality in Organizations Research source: Acker, J. (1990). Hierarchies, Jobs, Bodies: A Theory of Gendered Organizations. Gender & Society, 4(2), 139–158. https://doi.org/10.1177/089124390004002002 #FairLeadership #JoanAcker #GenderedOrganizations #Intersectionality #GenderEquality #FemaleCareers #WomenInLeadership #InclusiveLeadership #OrganizationalChange #EqualOpportunities