Nevertheless, the first act of social categorization when encountering the other is to ascribe a gender identity. It is an act that is considered natural. However, it carries assumptions of femininity and masculinity as well as gender roles. Societal arrangements often reflect these conscious and unconscious everyday categorizations of gender. Gender positions are manifested in segregation of jobs, wage gaps, hierarchies, advertising, space arrangements etc.
Gendered assumptions are of cultural and societal origin, and thus vary across nation-states.
There are, however, some striking similarities across national boundaries. The relationships between gender, organization and society are highly complex and problematic. The context of the papers does not have to be focused on business firms, but can be extended to working life, labour markets or politics. All papers must be submitted by 30th of November 1999.