Organizing gender? Looking at metaphors as frames of meaning in gender/organizational texts
Organizing gender? Looking at metaphors as frames of meaning in gender/organizational texts
This article examines the ways in which the writing of gender and organizational theory has made use of metaphors to frame understanding about gender and gender relations. Key examples of different theoretical approaches to explaining gender difference within organizations are analysed as texts, to explore the ways in which rhetorical devices play a crucial role in constructing knowledges about women, men, and organizational life. In particular, three metaphors are uncovered: those of space, time and the sexual body. These have important connections with metaphors embedded in 'mainstream' (masculinist) organizational theory and are thus shown to construct our understanding of gender in particular, and somewhat limited, ways. However, in the second half of the article, alternative significations of these metaphors are explored. These suggest other readings which may open up the ways in which women, men and gender relations are framed within gender/organizational theoretical texts.
60-80
Leonard, Pauline
a2839090-eccc-4d84-ab63-c6a484c6d7c1
2002
Leonard, Pauline
a2839090-eccc-4d84-ab63-c6a484c6d7c1
Leonard, Pauline
(2002)
Organizing gender? Looking at metaphors as frames of meaning in gender/organizational texts.
Gender, Work & Organization, 9 (1), .
(doi:10.1111/1468-0432.00149).
Abstract
This article examines the ways in which the writing of gender and organizational theory has made use of metaphors to frame understanding about gender and gender relations. Key examples of different theoretical approaches to explaining gender difference within organizations are analysed as texts, to explore the ways in which rhetorical devices play a crucial role in constructing knowledges about women, men, and organizational life. In particular, three metaphors are uncovered: those of space, time and the sexual body. These have important connections with metaphors embedded in 'mainstream' (masculinist) organizational theory and are thus shown to construct our understanding of gender in particular, and somewhat limited, ways. However, in the second half of the article, alternative significations of these metaphors are explored. These suggest other readings which may open up the ways in which women, men and gender relations are framed within gender/organizational theoretical texts.
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Published date: 2002
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Local EPrints ID: 33875
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/33875
ISSN: 0968-6673
PURE UUID: a2849b37-9773-42ab-8a3a-54fac9e12f0a
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Date deposited: 15 May 2006
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:48
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