Gender desegregation and equal employment opportunity in Australian luxury hotels: Are we there yet?

Abstract

Research examining the nature and effects of Australia's equal employment opportunity (EEO) legislation has illustrated the disappointing lack of progress made by women since legislative enactment in 1986. The findings also highlight our poor understanding of gender-based employment segregation and the EEO policies and programs that exist within Australian firms. In part, this is the result of the conduct of surprisingly few studies involving qualitative research at the workplace level. Adopting a case study approach within the Australian luxury hotel industry, the present research highlights marked and persistent patterns of gender segregation. Moreover, it reveals what actually happens within organisations and exposes factors that influence patterns of gender segregation and desegregation in the workplace, including: business strategy; employee demographics; history and tradition; customer expectations; and non compliance with legislation. Overall, a minority of managers were seen to be advancing women's employment opportunities.