Beyond diversity: an analysis of gender inclusion within Indian manufacturing organizations

Abstract

Purpose Organizations are increasingly emphasizing inclusive practices to leverage the valuable potential of their human resource. This study seeks to investigate the influence of organizational norms on the experiences of inclusion among women in manufacturing organizations. This study aims to comprehend how gendered perceptions of the ideal worker shape women’s sense of inclusion within the workplace. Design/methodology/approach The research adopted a qualitative approach to understand women’s experience of inclusion in the manufacturing workplace. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to conduct semistructured interviews with 52 professionals working in the four manufacturing organizations. These employees were working in different roles as functional managers, human resource managers, diversity officers and female employees. Interviews were analyzed following a three-step coding process. ATLAS.ti software was used to analyze the data. The study draws upon Acker’s theory of “gendered organizations” and West and Zimmerman’s concept of “doing gender” to understand workplace narratives, adapting these theories to the specific context of India. Findings This study highlights frequent experiences of exclusion experienced by women in the workplace. This is because of a prevalent culture that prioritizes the ideal worker image within workplace narratives, serving as a significant catalyst for these experiences of exclusion. Additionally, the study underscores how apparently supportive measures, initially appearing beneficial, can inadvertently heighten women’s vulnerability to workplace exclusion. Originality/value This study shows how broader national and industrial cultures, which are often male-dominated, can, further reinforce barriers to creating a gender-inclusive workplace. Overall, the study underscores the importance of addressing ideal worker narratives as pivotal steps toward fostering a workplace that is genuinely inclusive for women.