Gendered organizational cultures: an analysis of the websites of investment banks.

Abstract

Women are still failing to reach the senior levels of management. A number of studies have addressed potential reasons for this and one area of research has examined the influence of gendered cultures on women. Researchers argue that women are excluded from male-dominated cultures through a complex dynamic of discourse and gendered practices. This study seeks to understand one aspect of this, using a qualitative content analysis of the websites of sixteen investment banks. Investments banks are chosen as an industry which has poor representation of women at senior levels and demonstrates characteristics of gendered cultures. The websites are examined to understand the gendered messages given through the espoused organisational culture and values. It is suggested that these espoused cultural values are in contradiction with the organisational reality and furthermore, they offer the image of a ‘contribution culture’ based on masculine images of organisational success.