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The Why Podcast: Why do people resist gender gap initiatives?
Assistant Professor of Organisational Behaviour Elinor Flynn sits down with Katie Pisa, Senior Editor of Think, to explore why many employees support equality yet still resist gender diversity initiatives. Dive into how the everyday explanations people use to make sense of persistent gender gaps shape whether they see organisational action as fair, necessary or effective.
Drawing on new research and real‑world workplace observations, Elinor explains why people act like “naïve scientists”, forming their own theories about why women remain underrepresented at senior levels despite strong educational attainment and decades of organisational effort. These explanations can either strengthen or undermine support for the very initiatives designed to close the gap.
Three key themes emerge from the conversation:
- People rely on three stories to explain gender gaps – organisational barriers, traits and choices – with each shaping how fair or necessary gender initiatives feel.
- “Choice” narratives make inequality seem voluntary, increasing the sense that women are responsible and reducing support for organisational action.
- Everyday workplace conversations can reinforce these narratives, so leaders must rethink how they frame careers, culture and expectations to build genuine support.
What can leaders can do differently? Elinor delves into whether they should be using more precise language when discussing career paths, challenging assumptions about why women leave organisations, or should they be rethinking work design to provide greater predictability rather than flexibility.
Dr Elinor Flynn is Assistant Professor of Organisational Behaviour. Discover more about Elinor and her research: https://www.london.edu/faculty-and-research/faculty-profiles/e/elinor-flynn.
For more thought leadership and business insights from London Business School faculty and alumni, visit https://www.london.edu/think.
Sign up to receive a curated selection of articles, podcasts and films direct to your inbox twice a month at https://www.london.edu/think?entry=true#subscribeScreen.
Follow us on social media:
X.com/LBS
linkedin.com/school/london-business-school
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By London Business SchoolAssistant Professor of Organisational Behaviour Elinor Flynn sits down with Katie Pisa, Senior Editor of Think, to explore why many employees support equality yet still resist gender diversity initiatives. Dive into how the everyday explanations people use to make sense of persistent gender gaps shape whether they see organisational action as fair, necessary or effective.
Drawing on new research and real‑world workplace observations, Elinor explains why people act like “naïve scientists”, forming their own theories about why women remain underrepresented at senior levels despite strong educational attainment and decades of organisational effort. These explanations can either strengthen or undermine support for the very initiatives designed to close the gap.
Three key themes emerge from the conversation:
- People rely on three stories to explain gender gaps – organisational barriers, traits and choices – with each shaping how fair or necessary gender initiatives feel.
- “Choice” narratives make inequality seem voluntary, increasing the sense that women are responsible and reducing support for organisational action.
- Everyday workplace conversations can reinforce these narratives, so leaders must rethink how they frame careers, culture and expectations to build genuine support.
What can leaders can do differently? Elinor delves into whether they should be using more precise language when discussing career paths, challenging assumptions about why women leave organisations, or should they be rethinking work design to provide greater predictability rather than flexibility.
Dr Elinor Flynn is Assistant Professor of Organisational Behaviour. Discover more about Elinor and her research: https://www.london.edu/faculty-and-research/faculty-profiles/e/elinor-flynn.
For more thought leadership and business insights from London Business School faculty and alumni, visit https://www.london.edu/think.
Sign up to receive a curated selection of articles, podcasts and films direct to your inbox twice a month at https://www.london.edu/think?entry=true#subscribeScreen.
Follow us on social media:
X.com/LBS
linkedin.com/school/london-business-school
facebook.com/LondonBusinessSchool