Beyond Glass Ceilings and Brick Walls - International Labour ...

women are treated by male colleagues. This can be accomplished in
several ways. Creating greater opportunities for interactions and
communication both formal and informal helps breakdown stereotypes
and gender blindness. Programs designed with specific objectives to
improve gender relations can be implemented by those responsible for
human resource development. Group discussions and time for reflection
on issues pertaining to gender and organizational goals help people identify
their roles and positions in a gender sensitive organization. A needs
assessment undertaken by a relatively neutral person who could be
objective will help identify critical areas for intervention in order to achieve
the gender goals set for itself.
18.Transforming Organizational Culture: Many of the suggestions listed above
will, if adopted, contribute to major changes that will ensure gender
justice at the workplace. However, these interventions must become
routine and mainstreamed into the annual work plans, values and norms
of good conduct and practices in organizations. Such internalization of
ideas and ideals among all levels of people is possible only if an enabling
environment is developed. Developing an enabling environment is the
responsibility primarily of management. The need to balance family and
work should be recognized in the best interest of the organization as
well as society at large. Corporate social responsibility should incorporate
this vital aspect. Managers, in collaboration with the other tiers of
employees, must develop and adopt an organizational policy frame and
guidelines within which gender-just practices based on a new normative
order is possible. The participation of all strata of the organization - both
women and men - will ensure an output that reflects the needs of the
employees that are also sensitive to the context and realities of the
organization. Such an approach will also ensure ownership of the policy
frame and guidelines that are developed, and a commitment to adhere to
them. This may need facilitation by competent resource persons. Once a
set of principles and interventions are adopted, the management must
carefully nurture the employees, creating opportunities to reinforce these
principles and making them part of the organizational culture. Commitment,
genuine internalization, and practice will be required by management
and others to transform organizational culture, which will require time
and effort.
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