Disruption and (re)producing gendered relations through bodies and space: a case study of a highly masculine organization

Abstract

Despite increasing attention paid to interventions to advance gender equity in male-dominated fields, women still remain underrepresented in some fields and continue to face barriers. While interventions have typically focused on HR practices and discourse, this paper uses a spatial approach to examine how spatial gender norms are disrupted and (re)produced in a male-dominated working environment through interactions between bodies and the space. Using a case study of the Belgian Fire Department (4.5% female workforce), we have analyzed organizational spaces that have implemented interventions to advance spatial inclusion or have plans to do so. Our findings reveal that spatial interventions intended to promote inclusion, such as segregated changing rooms and dormitories, can also be seen as a form of organizational resistance. By isolating female bodies through the spatial layout, the organization renders women invisible, effectively removing the "disruption" of their presence from the dominant masculine space. This preserves the masculine character of the organizational space, excludes women from informal networks, and reinforces the idea that the female body does not fit the ‘ideal employee’. This study advances the organizational literature by demonstrating how well-intended spatial interventions can still reproduce inequalities, arguing that genuine inclusion requires moving beyond reasonable spatial accommodations.