Sex and Organizational Analysis

Abstract

The focus of the paper is on the process of organizational desexualization which has taken place over a long historical period and upon the resistance which this process has engendered amongst organizational subordinates. The eradication of the high level of sexual activity which took place in pre-industrial organizations was sought by those in positions of authority and the paper considers the variety of mechanisms which were developed to attain this expulsion. These mechanisms are well entrenched in contemporary organizations, yet have met with considerable resistance from lower-order organizational members. The paper considers certain forms of resistance in this light in an attempt to suggest a dialectical approach to sexuality. It is concluded that the issue of sex is one which organizational analysis has avoided for too long.