Strategies for Overcoming the Gender Gap by Working Women (Case Study of Russian Organizations)

In the context of the global economic crisis associated with the pandemic, the gender gap index has increased, indicating increasing gender inequalities and, consequently, gender assimilation in society. Despite the fact that in Russia the total number of educated, qualified, healthy, working women is significantly higher than that of men, women face unequal wage distribution and feel the income gap, rarely reach managerial positions, are not represented at high managerial levels, and are excluded from political life. The aim of the study was to identify and examine the specifics of gendered career-building strategies by Russian women as a way of narrowing the gender gap. The following methodological approaches were used to consider gender inequalities in the organizational context: Gender in organization, Gendered organization, Doing & Undoing Gender Strategies. Key results: confirming the existence of gender strategies as a way to bridge the gender gap within an organization; identifying and describing how Russian women apply gender strategies in their career development. The “Doing Gender” strategy was used more frequently than the “Undoing Gender” strategy. However, the scope of Undoing Gender was much wider and more variable. Those women who used a combination of gender strategies (“Doing & Undoing Gender”) rated themselves as “strong players”, emphasized high subjective satisfaction with their lives (having a family and children), and noted a successful career path, unlike those who used only one of the strategies. A combination of gender strategies can help to promote women’s careers in the best possible way and bridge the gender gap in the organization.

1. Belova O. E., Gurieva S. D. Social perceptions of gender inequalities in society and in the organisation // Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference of Young Scientists “Psychology of the XXI Century: Current Challenges and Achievements St. Petersburg: Scythia-Print Publ. 2020. P 175-183. (In rus)

2. Voronina O. A. Gender Equality Policy in Modern Russia: Problems and Contradictions // Woman in Russian Society [Zhenshchina v rossijskom obshchestve]. 2013. N 3. P 12-20. (In rus)

3. Gurieva S. D., Udavikhina U. A. Peculiarities of applying gender strategies in career building by women in Russia // Proceedings of the III International Scientific-Practical Conference “Herzen Readings: Psychological Research in Education”. 2020. Is. 3. P. 270-273. (In rus)

4. Kabaykina O. V., Sushchenko O. A. Transformation of the role of women in modern society: in the family and at work // Moscow University Bulletin Ser. 18. Sociology and Political Science [Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta. Ser. 18. Sociologiya i politologiya]. 2017. Vol. 23. N 3. P 140-155. (In rus)

5. Kazantseva T V., Gurieva S. D., Mararitsa L. V. Subjective experience of gender inequality by working women // St. Petersburg Psychological Journal [Peterburgskij psihologicheskij zhurnal]. 2020. N 3. P 35-52. (In rus)

6. Mararitsa L. V., Gurieva S. D., Kazantseva T. V. The phenomenon of gender inequality as a factor in women’s career capital: framing the problem // Human Psychology in Education [Psiholo-giya cheloveka v obrazovanii]. 2019. Т. 1. N 1. P 44-52. (In rus)

7. Medvedeva N. R., Kindaev A.Y Gender inequality in the employment of university graduates // XXI century: results of the past and problems of the present plus [XXI vek: itogi proshlogo i problemy nastoyashchego plyus]. 2013. N 8 (12). P 309-314. (In rus)

8. Ryabova T. B., Ovcharova O. G. Gender political science in Russia: achievements, problems and prospects // Woman in Russian Society [Zhenshchina v rossijskom obshchestve]. 2016. N 1. P 3-14. (In rus)

9. Acker J. Inequality regimes: Gender, class, and race in organizations // Gender and society, 2006. Vol. 20. N 4. P 441-464.

10. Aktepe S. Gender Inequality in Work Organizations: What HRM Practices Mean for Gender Inequality // Macro and Micro-Level Issues Surrounding Women in the Workforce: Emerging Research and Opportunities, edited by Basak Ucanok Tan, IGI Global. 2020. P 1-36.

11. Benschop Y The Micro-politics of Gendering in Networking // Gender, work and organization. 2009. Vol. 16. N 2. P 217-237.

12. Britton D. M. The epistemology of the gendered organization // Gender & Society. 2000. Vol. 14. N 3. P 418-434.

13. Broadbridge A. 25 years of retailing; 25 years of change? Reflecting on the position of women managers // Gender in Management: An International Journal, 2010. Vol. 25. N 8. P. 649-660.

14. Cloninger S. Exploring the Lives of Women Who Lead (PhD Thesis). Culver City: Antioch University. 2017. 353 p.

15. Cohen P N., Huffman M. L., Knauer S. Stalled Progress? Gender Segregation and Wage Inequality among Managers, 1980-2000 // Work and Occupations. 2009. Vol. 36. N 4. P 318-342.

16. Deutsch F. M. Undoing gender // Gender & Society. 2007. V. 21. N 1. P 106-127.

17. Dorius S. F., Firebaugh G. Trends in global gender inequality // Social Forces. 2010. Vol. 88. N 5. P 1941-1968.

18. Duberley J., Cohen L. Gendering career capital: An investigation of scientific careers // Journal of Vocational Behavior. 2010. Vol. 76. N 2. P 187-197.

19. Ibarra H. Paving an alternative route: Gender differences in managerial networks // Social Psychology Quarterly. 1997. Vol. 60. N 1. P 91-102.

20. Jokinen T, Brewster C., Suutari V. Career capital during international work experiences: Contrasting self-initiated expatriate experiences and assigned expatriation, The International // Journal of Human Resource Management. 2008. Vol. 19. N 6. P. 979-998.

21. Kelan E. Gender Logic and (Un)doing Gender At Work // Gender, Work and Organization. 2010. Vol. 17. N 2. P 174-194.

22. Mastracci S., Arreola V. Gendered Organizations: How Human Resource Management Practices Produce and Reproduce Administrative Man // Administrative Theory & Praxis. 2016. N 38. P 137-149.

23. Spoor J. R., Schmitt M. T “Things are getting better” isn’t always better: Considering women’s progress affects perceptions of and reactions to contemporary gender inequality // Basic and Applied Social Psychology. 2011. Vol. 33. N 1. P 24-36.

24. Tulin M., Lancee B., Volker B. Personality and social capital // Social psychology quarterly. 2018. Vol. 81. N 4. P 295-318.

25. West C., Zimmerman D. H. Doing gender // Gender & Society. 1987. Vol. 1. N 2, P 125-51.