Discourses of change: policing, sexuality, and organizational culture
Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management
ISSN: 1746-5648
Article publication date: 13 November 2009
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to highlight the need to expand current organizational studies to include positive experiences of non‐heterosexual workers while identifying, often covert, heteronormative workplace practices. Included in this is a reflexive analysis of author positionality.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative study utilizing participant observation, narrative interviews, and autoethnography are employed to begin understanding lesbian work experiences.
Findings
Three dominant strategies are used by participants to understand variant sexuality: strategies of discourse, strategies of resistance, and strategies of identity formation. Findings indicate that as awareness about lesbian identities increased so did understandings of difference and, in turn, resistance to heteronormative power structures increased.
Research limitations/implications
Future research could include other sexually stigmatized groups.
Originality/value
The contributions of this paper include broader understandings of how sexuality organizes work, how researcher positionality impacts organizational climates and research processes, and practical suggestions for organizations expanding diversity efforts and researchers aiming to increase diversity awareness.
Keywords
Citation
Lewis, A.P. (2009), "Discourses of change: policing, sexuality, and organizational culture", Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management, Vol. 4 No. 3, pp. 208-230. https://doi.org/10.1108/17465640911002518
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited