Let Women Take the Lead: Insights from the UK Defense Industry

Georgiadou, Andri; Metcalfe, B; Rimington, C

Abstract

We discuss how gender diversity in the workplace is managed (or not) within a non-traditional environment, specifically a UK defense company, aiming to gain an understanding of the impact on female employees. We argue that there are still remnants of bias – both conscious and unconscious – within the workplace, and some of the female participants felt that discrimination is embedded in the corporate culture. Our study revealed that there are currently no female role models within the senior ranks; and few women had progressed into middle management. We position the study within debates around diversity and inclusion and human capacity development in the UK defense sector in general, and specifically the armed forces. We also show how issues of equality are addressed in diverse ways, through legislation and gender quotas, and emphasize why achieving and safeguarding gender equality is important to practicing managers.

Citation

Georgiadou, A., Metcalfe, B., & Rimington, C. (2019). Let Women Take the Lead: Insights from the UK Defense Industry. AIB Insights, 19(4), 12-15. https://doi.org/10.46697/001c.16964

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 11, 2019
• Publication Date: 2019
• Deposit Date: Apr 23, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 27, 2020
• Journal: AIB Insights
• Print ISSN: 1938-9590
• Publisher: Academy of International Business
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 19
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 12-15
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.46697/001c.16964
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4329582
• Publisher URL: https://insights.aib.world/article/16964-let-women-take-the-lead-insights-from-the-uk-defense-industry