Abstract/Description
There is a growing body of research that argues that gender not only bifurcates male and female leadership styles, but also discriminates against bodies of women and men. This paper presents accounts of body strategies by women leaders described as the self-surveillance mechanism offered by the paradigmic model of the Panopticon (Foucault, 1979). The study contributes to the literature of Foucault’s bio-power technology as a compelling explanation for women’s compliance and collusion to the patriarchal standards of femininity as leaders. Through feminist Foucauldian lens, I observed how senior women discipline their bodies through voluntary, social, and political controls (Bartky, 1988). Gioia method (Gioia, et al, 2013) was used to analyze observations and the interviews of senior women bankers in Pakistan. Using “Purposive sampling” (Tongco, M. D. C. 2007) 20 women leaders (ageing between 32 to 62 years) from 15 financial institutions in Pakistan not only demonstrated what they feel and how they can be seen, but rather what they do by adopting strategies of attire, postures and style to achieve their professional independence This research aims to examine strategies of constraints and emancipation presented as three typologies of senior women professionals in a work environment where men dominate.
Keywords
Track
Management
Session Number/Theme
Session 2B: Leadership and Workplace
Session Chair
Dr. Waheed Umrani, Institute of Business Administration, Karachi
Start Date/Time
23-6-2022 4:50 PM
End Date/Time
23-6-2022 5:10 PM
Location
Training Room 1, Marriott Hotel, Karachi
Recommended Citation
Ansari, N. A. (2022). Body strategies of women leaders (a Foucauldian lens). 3rd IBA SBS International Conference 2024. Retrieved from https://ir.iba.edu.pk/sbsic/2022/program/30
Body strategies of women leaders (a Foucauldian lens)
Training Room 1, Marriott Hotel, Karachi
There is a growing body of research that argues that gender not only bifurcates male and female leadership styles, but also discriminates against bodies of women and men. This paper presents accounts of body strategies by women leaders described as the self-surveillance mechanism offered by the paradigmic model of the Panopticon (Foucault, 1979). The study contributes to the literature of Foucault’s bio-power technology as a compelling explanation for women’s compliance and collusion to the patriarchal standards of femininity as leaders. Through feminist Foucauldian lens, I observed how senior women discipline their bodies through voluntary, social, and political controls (Bartky, 1988). Gioia method (Gioia, et al, 2013) was used to analyze observations and the interviews of senior women bankers in Pakistan. Using “Purposive sampling” (Tongco, M. D. C. 2007) 20 women leaders (ageing between 32 to 62 years) from 15 financial institutions in Pakistan not only demonstrated what they feel and how they can be seen, but rather what they do by adopting strategies of attire, postures and style to achieve their professional independence This research aims to examine strategies of constraints and emancipation presented as three typologies of senior women professionals in a work environment where men dominate.
