Equal Opportunities Work - Theories about Practice

or explain what fundamental changes in society would have to take place if we
were to introduce a fair distribution of power between the sexes. Although our
gender analysis was not performed to promote equal opportunities, it still gives
rise to questions such as the following: Why is there inequality today? Should
things not change? What would the consequences of such changes be?
Equal opportunities work without a gender perspective often means that the
number of people of the underrepresented sex in the (existing) organization in
question increases, for example through recruitment campaigns. As we have
seen, such measures may be justified both in terms of justice and of quality
improvements.
Imposing a gender perspective on equal opportunities work means working
to ensure changes with a view to altering the structure of the organization and
throwing its established norms and aims into question. This is a deeper
approach, in which equal opportunities work is based on an understanding of
both the lack of equality in society and of the mechanisms that pose obstacles
to equality and that uphold unfair relationships between the sexes. This
understanding is vital to achieving sustainable equality of opportunity-and real
change in an organization.
What are the actual differences between working with equal opportunities
with and without a gender perspective? We can elucidate this by examining an
example, using an explanatory model known as " the male as normative".
Equal opportunities work without a gender perspective can, for instance, mean
not taking account of the male norm. The practical consequence is often that
the "shortcomings" of women or girls are highlighted: their lack of interest in
technology and the natural sciences, their inability to "help themselves to their
fair share", their disinterest in holding management positions, ad infinitum.
And it would then be these "faults" that were used to determine how equal
opportunities work in practice was formulated. Networks of mentors would be
set up, recruitment campaigns waged with a view to rectifying the problems
and thus increasing the numbers of the underrepresented sex, just to mention a
few examples.
Working with equal opportunities on the basis of a gender perspective, on
the other hand, would mean considering the problem complex surrounding the
male norm, and would cast an entirely different light on the matter. The
problem would no longer be regarded as a problem of women as individuals,
but rather as a problem in the organization and the surrounding society. This
would open people's eyes to the general structural discrimination of women
and women's experience. The aim of equal opportunities work would then be
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