This text examines some of the assumptions that have been made about women at work - for example that women's "difference" is rooted in biology and that women and men have contrasting (and even polar opposite) skills and attitudes. It considers the key topics in organizational behaviour (such as perception, leadership and motivation) to test such assumptions. The book describes the reality of working life for women. It examines issues of low pay, part-time working, family responsibilities, home working and horizontal and vertical job segregation. It asks whether inequality of opportunity comes about because of actual gender differences or from prejudicial expectations and thinking. The last chapter is about sex and sexuality in organizations. Sexual behaviour in organizations is pervasive but is rarely discussed in organizational behaviour textbooks. This chapter describes the masculine and heterosexual business environment and examines the issues of work romances and sexual harassment.

Table of Contents

Men and women's place at work and home; perceiving men and women in organizations; learning and socialization; motivation; leadership; personality; sex, the body and sexuality in organizations.