The invisibility of inequality: men’s perspectives of gender issues in the workplace

Using data from a diverse sample of workers across blue-collar, white-collar and pink-collar occupations, we explore men’s perceptions of gender issues in the workplace. In doing so, our research sheds light on how gendered workplace structures are understood and rationalized by those who benefit from them. We find that, despite acknowledging some forms of gender disparities, men are more likely to frame gender issues in terms of men’s hardships and disadvantages than discuss systemic privilege. Across all three types of jobs, men’s perceptions of gender issues show a tension between recognizing the disadvantages faced by women and believing that some workplace circumstances are unfair to men. Thus, while gendered organizational structures overwhelmingly favour men, their benefits are largely invisible to them. Our findings highlight the complexity of gendered workplace dynamics and the need for additional research that takes into account structural inequalities and the subjective experiences of the people who navigate them.