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Women in Industrial Relations: Overcoming Gender Biases

  • Leire Gartzia
  • Alejandro Amillano
  • Josune Baniandrés
Chapter
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Part of the Industrial Relations & Conflict Management book series (IRCM)

Abstract

Although the promotion of equality is central to the mainstream field of industrial relations, employment relationships and human resource policies continue to be designed according to the male breadwinner ideal. In this chapter, we examine from a gender perspective some of the antecedents and implications of this phenomenon. We review evidence that many conditions of employment such as wages, job security, or access to power positions have particular negative effects for female employees. At the same time, we underscore the many economic and cultural transformations occurred in the labor market, society and work configurations, which bring new opportunities for women’s advancement in employment conditions. In relation to this, we identify strategies that might help women overcome current obstacles and gender biases, and highlight the role of (and benefits for) IR agents in such transformation toward gender equality.

Keywords

Gender Equality Collective Bargaining Industrial Relation International Labor Organization Female Employee 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016

Authors and Affiliations

  • Leire Gartzia
    • 1
  • Alejandro Amillano
    • 2
  • Josune Baniandrés
    • 1
  1. 1.Deusto Business SchoolBilbaoSpain
  2. 2.Faculty of Psychology and EducationUniversity of DeustoBilbaoSpain

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