Economic Benefit Instead of Equality Norms. Advantages and Risks of the Economic Benefit Discourse in the Swiss Policy for Gender Equality in the Workplace
Abstract
The economy benefits from equality – with this argument, the actors of the current Swiss policy for equality want to motivate companies to introduce equality measures. By means of a discourse analysis of documents and interviews in a typical equality project, the central elements and consequences of this economic benefit discourse are elaborated. The discourse may work as an incentive for companies for equality measures. However, simultaneously, it may also be a legitimation for companies not to act. Moreover, the discourse bears the risk of implementing measures that do not aim to change gender inequalities or of even reinforcing them. The study reveals limits in the scope and effectiveness of the equality policy.
Keywords
- equality policy in the workplace
- gender equality
- social inequalities
- discourse
analysis - Switzerland
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Publication information
Institutions:
Authors:
Editors:
Brigitte Liebig, René Levy, Birgit Sauer, Alfonso Sousa-Poza
Publisher:
Swiss Sociological Association and Seismo Press, Swiss Journal of Sociology, Vol. 40, Issue 2, July 2014, «Gender Equality Policies in Switzerland», pp. 325-348
Languages:
German
Media Type:
City:
Zurich
Year:
2014
Themes:
Disciplines:
Research labels:
Politics
Work – carrer – professions
Inequalities
Language(s) – discourse – communication
Subjects:
Sociology
Genres:
Article