Gender (in)equality in Australia: Good intentions and unintended consequences

Abstract

Gender inequality is a complex problem with multiple interrelated indicators (e.g. underrepresentation of women in leadership roles, gender pay gaps). Our academic community has been following a three-step ‘script’ to motivate organisations to act on gender inequality: we document the inequality, we build a business case for equality, and we advocate solutions to correct inequality. But too often, our well-meant messages have negative consequences. We may be inadvertently presenting gender inequality as an intractable problem and creating unrealistic expectations among stakeholders about gender equality benefits and gender inequality solutions. As stakeholders become impatient with Australia’s slow progress toward gender equality, we may need to reconsider this strategy. Academic researchers may be more successful change agents if we are more deliberate about highlighting the interconnections among gender inequality indicators, identifying the organisational value of gender equality beyond financial performance, and advocating small-scale structural changes alongside large-scale interventions.