En ständig balansgång
En komparativ studie kring jämställdhetsarbete på en manligt dominerad respektive en kvinnligt dominerad arbetsplats
This study, entitled A constant balance ? Gender equality work in an organisation dominated by women and an organisation dominated by men focuses on attitudes towards gender equality issues in two organisations ? one that is dominated by women and one that is dominated by men. The study is based on the Doing gender theory, which primarily means that gender is something people do, it is constantly changing and it depends on the surrounding context.The organisations in the study are both working with gender equality issues, but the attitudes towards gender equality work are ambiguous. The primary gender equality issue in both organisations is to increase the number of employees of the non-dominant gender. The gender equality work in both organisations is formally supported but it is also being met with informal resistance. The informants say that it is the older men in the organisations that are the strongest opponents of gender equality work. The common attitudes is said to be ?it is good as it is?.The Equal Opportunities Act (sw: Jämställdhetslagen) is said to be very important in the legitimisation of the gender equality work. All informants say that it is good that such an Act exists. The main view of men and women is based on complementary thinking. Women are supposed to be empathetic, attentive and caring while men are said to be action-geared, technical and physically strong. To work with gender equality can be seen as a constant balance act. The issue has to be raised to accomplish change but at the same time it is important not to push too hard, it can lead to backlashes.