Abstract
Extending tokenism theory, and Kanter’s work on numerical representation within organisations, we emphasise the societal context of gender inequality in order to understand token women’s lived experiences at work. Based on analysis of 29 in-depth interviews in a multinational (MNC) situated in the distinctive socio-institutional setting of Saudi Arabia, the article expands Kanter’s typology of roles, to capture token assimilation in a context-embedded way. In particular, we explore the interaction of a seemingly Western MNC espousing liberal values, rules and norms with the enduring patriarchal and traditional context of Saudi Arabia. Further adding texture to Kanter’s theory, this study reveals that the organisational context cannot be seen as fundamentally neutral and inevitably interacts with the societal context, resulting in unique manifestations of tokenism.
Highlights
IntroductionWomen continue to be under-represented in management and leadership positions
Across the globe, women continue to be under-represented in management and leadership positions
Using Saudi Arabia as an illuminating case, the central aim of the article is to understand the shape and form of tokenism experienced by Saudi women and their responses to their token status within the boundaries of their constrained agency at the interplay of organisational and societal contexts
Summary
Women continue to be under-represented in management and leadership positions. The country set a target for increasing women’s workforce participation, in leadership positions, by 2030 (Vision 2030, 2019) These initiatives have been criticised as mere tokenism since Saudi women subsist within patriarchal legal and socio-cultural systems that considerably restrict their careers (Al-Rasheed, 2018). Populist moves like ending the ban on women driving, and changing guardianship laws to permit women to work without their male guardian’s permission (Arab News, 2019) were pursued to increase females’ labour force participation These reforms have been criticised as superficial public relations exercises; for instance, women being allowed to drive is seen as institutionalised tokenism since Saudi women’s political and civil rights are completely neglected (Al-Rasheed, 2018). Women who had campaigned for the right to drive remain in prison, highlighting how token public reforms are deployed to divert attention from ongoing human rights violations (Ehteshami, 2018)
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