Gender in transnational knowledge work

Abstract

This is he first edited book on gender issues in transnational business cooperation concerning knowledge work. This area has so far been researched mainly by organizational theorists, with their background in business studies, finance, communication or sociology, and gender has seldom been taken into account in these studies. This book shows how fruitful a gendered take on issues within this area is, both for a deepened understanding of these organizational issues and for a widened understanding of gender issues. The chapters in the book cover a range of themes from a gender perspective; culture, communication, identity work, structures, organizational change, globalization, mobility, resistance, leadership and management, international business, work life balance, education and labour market, policies and value systems. The chapters also demonstrate the multidisciplinarity within gender research itself and how different perspectives on gender can be combined and developed. They on the social constructionist approach of "doing gender", feminist organization theory, gendered discourse analysis, techno-feminism, and critical studies on men and masculinities. The book provides insights relevant for some of the relevant debates in business, economics, geography, sociology, and gender and women's studies. While primarily a research volume, the book is also useful for people who develop and manage transnational business relations. Introduction, Helen Peterson and Minna Salminen-Karlsson -- A Gendered Analysis of IT Enabled Service Work in the Global Economy, Debra Howcroft and Helen Richardson -- Paradox of Empowerment and Marginalization, Roli Varma -- A Perfect Match? Helen Peterson, Minna Salminen-Karlsson and Sunrita Dhar-Bhattacharjee -- Culturalism as Resistance, Smitha Radhakrishnan -- Top Men in Transnational Companies, Jeff Hearn, Marjut Jyrkinen, Mira Karjalainen, Charlotta Niemistö and Rebecca Piekkari -- Shifting Masculinities in the South Asian Outsourcing Industry, Yasmin Zaidi and Winifred R. Poster -- Contributors.