“Women don’t need to be fixed”: RSM researcher on the causes of gender inequality

For two decades, the issue of gender (in)equality has been receiving increased attention – both in academic circles and in public initiatives. “As female scholars, we take part in training and network initiatives targeted at women”, explains Corinna Frey-Heger. “In these well-intentioned events, we learn how to ‘lean in’, how to become more confident or simply smile more, and how to properly ‘plan’ childbirth in order to navigate paper deadlines.” But such initiatives often leave women frustrated. And they also ensure that we buy in to the narrative that, as women, we are the problem that needs fixing.

Dismantling established narratives

The podcast The Fix by Michelle Penelope King is so powerful because it dismantles these established narratives. In conversations with researchers, politicians, actresses, founders, and executives, King challenges the narrative that gender inequality can be resolved by “fixing” women. Instead, she shifts the focus to how the system needs to change in order to achieve true equality.

Through more than 200 episodes, The Fix demonstrates how deeply rooted structures, and everyday practices contribute to the reproduction of inequality. For example, in the airline industry, the proportion of female pilots is only five percent because inflexible work schedules slow down women with caregiving responsibilities.

Another example of systemic inequality is that women and marginalized groups often adapt their behavior to avoid being stereotyped. They try to “make everyone feel good about their success” or “not unsettle others with their authority.” These micro-adjustments accumulate into a stressful everyday life. “In research, this is described as 'death by a million cuts,’” says Anja Danner-Schröder, “an emblem of how many small disadvantages can have a large impact.”

The path to success is based on everyday actions

The podcast also shows how things can work differently: the example of Iceland, where paternity leave is the norm and parenting is seen as a cross-gender task, illustrates what systemic change can look like. Another example from the podcast shows that alliances with male colleagues can be important. Instead of merely standing by when women face discrimination at work, male colleagues can already achieve a lot by taking small actions, such as addressing problematic comments.

In other words, gender equality cannot be the sole responsibility of women. It requires the involvement of all actors who shape and determine a workplace. “In the study, we argue that there needs to be a shift in our understanding of what gender inequality is to how it operates. A practice-based perspective, as used in the study, focuses our perspective on everyday actions,” says Corinna Frey-Heger.