Gender, labor and decision-making : the woman’s situation in family businesses in a Swedish agricultural setting

Abstract: The inequality and separation of sexes seen in organizations may lead to inefficient use of human resources. Therefor, a more equal organization could lead to higher productivity and efficiency. Inequality within organizations is a problem also for the society as a whole since who is chosen for a position is not depended upon merits, leading to inefficiency. To not reflect upon traditional division of labor and decision-making could also lead to an undemocratic and unjust society. The aim of this thesis is to explore women and men’s engagement a family business in an agricultural setting. Gender theorists argue that gender arises from the social situation in society. There are three gender melodies affecting us: A-not A, A-a and A-B. The melodies are incorporated into a gender system. The gender system affect people with a separating force, showing that women and men are different, and a hierarchy force, saying that there is a male norm. However, the gender system and gender itself is changeable. The literature review shows that gender influence how management in organizations is formed. Management and leadership are traditionally seen as something masculine. In family businesses labor and decision-making are commonly divided according to traditional gender roles. The woman often takes care of supportive functions like accounting and caring for the family. In an agricultural business labor is also divided according to traditional gender roles. The women are less involved in the heavy practical work than their spouses and instead are more involved in the administration and the domestic work. Within decision-making of an agricultural business the men are more likely to practice more power over strategic and operative decisions. However, the men are more likely to make decisions concerning the operative whilst the strategic decisions the spouses are more likely to do together. Furthermore, the women seem to be gaining more influence and involvement in the decisions-making process. The focus in the study is the women associated with family businesses in a Swedish agricultural setting. The women’s association can be by personal ownership or that their partners own a family business in the agricultural setting. The study is an explorative qualitative multiple case study consisting of twelve businesses with a total of 24 individuals. The empirical data was obtained by interviews with the individuals. The interviews were analyzed with pattern analysis. The study shows that gender effect both the couples’ division of labor and their decision-making process. Few of the participating couples have reflected upon their traditional division of labor and involvement in the decisions-making process. Those women in the study that are active in the practical work and decision-making are breaking the gender norms.