Routledge Gender, Power and Organization: A psychological perspective on life at work

Work organizations are a major site of gender politics for professional women and men, and although there are more women in senior positions than ever before, these increased opportunities have not been gained without psychological consequences. Evidence-based and theoretically driven, the new edition of Gender, Power and Organization raises important questions about gender and power in the workplace, and the psychology of women’s advancement. Twenty years on from the first edition, it re-examines gender relations at work and asks why, despite many years of feminist critique and action, we are able to understand the dynamics of the workplace but fail to make them more representative. The struggles women face in professional and public life remain intense, not least because many men experience an increasing sense of threat to their long-term aspirations and professional positions. Using examples from recent research and the author's own consultancy experience, this important volume offers a fresh exploration of the psychology of gender and power at work, from the development of gender identities and roles, to explanations of bullying and sexual harassment in the organization. It offers an accessible survey of the subject for professional managers and students of leadership, psychology, management, sociology, gender, and women’s studies. Review "Gender, Power and Organization is an intellectually stimulating read. At the same time, it is an emotional journey into the lives of the women portrayed in the text, and unavoidably, into one’s own life. Whether the reader is male or female, there is a pathway to the personal and professional self. I would recommend this book to fellow academics, graduate students in business and the social/behavioral sciences, and organizational consultants. Nicolson provides a provocative treatise which will serve as the catalyst for discussion, debate and the revelation of new stories." – Mary C. Meisenhelter, Journal of Organizational Change Management "... a useful resource to recommend to clients, both female and male who are experiencing challenges around gender and power in the organisations in which they work. Although written in an academic style it is a very readable slim volume." – Linda Watkinson, Therapy Today   "In summation, I am glad I read this book. I found many, many fascinating anecdotes and explanations of real, common psychological experiences woven throughout." - Eleni Lobene, Senior Associate Consultant, Aon Hewitt,Washington, DC "Those interested in the nature of flow at work would find this book to be a great place to start their inquiry. The small size of the book (approximately 206 pages) fairly reflects the state of our current understanding of flow in the work context...As an academic, I value the way this book is structured, and I would not hesitate to use it in a graduate-level special topics course on flow at work. Each of the 10 chapters could easily anchor the majority of topics I would cover in a semester." - S. B. Pond III, Associate Professor, NC State University, Raleigh, NC About the Author Paula Nicolson, a Chartered Psychologist, Fellow of the British Psychological Society, Organizational Consultant and Leadership Coach, is Emeritus Professor of Health and Social Care in the Department of Social Work, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK.