Back to the “Closet”: A Critical Essay on the Paradigmatic Framing of Gender Research in Organizational Studies
Keywords:
Gender, Organizational Studies, Research Paradigms, CritiqueAbstract
This study set out to discuss gender in organizational studies, particularly from a paradigmatic perspective. We offered reflections on how the field has positioned itself in relation to the paradigms presented in the social sciences, especially as outlined by Burrell and Morgan. To that end, the theoretical essay was guided by the following central question: Is it possible to speak of a paradigmatic pluralism, or are we facing a new kind of “closet”? Based on this, we reflected on the extent to which “affiliation” to a single paradigm may hinder the advancement of gender research, and on what other factors have become relevant for analyzing this field. We therefore conclude that adopting a more critical stance in organizational studies — and particularly in those that address gender — is an urgent matter, as it can contribute to the development of the field. Moreover, we observed that although there appear to be advances in how this topic is approached, many challenges still need to be overcome, especially within the academic sphere, where we are “daily” pushed to fit into a research typology or paradigm, which constrains the critical positioning that this and other subjects demand.Downloads
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