Interview: Cynthia Cockburn on women, equality and social science research

Abstract

PurposeCynthia Cockburn's research spans some three decades and has covered several major and distinct themes – technology and technical change, organizational equality policies and practices, and more recently conflict studies – but she has consistently studied gender from a feminist perspective and it is this interest that binds her work together. She has published more than ten books, numerous book chapters, articles, pamphlets and reports. Aims to find out more about this person.Design/methodology/approachThis article is based on an interview with Cynthia Cockburn conducted in March 2006.FindingsHer book In the Way of Women, published in 1991, stands out as having had enormous influence – it is still widely cited today, making it one of the classic texts and essential reading for those researching the dynamics of inequalities in organizational contexts. This article deals largely with the themes and methodological issues posed by Cynthia's early‐mid 1990s research focusing on organizational equality.Originality/valueThis is an update on this influential researcher's work and ideas on women, equality and social science research.