Gender Matters

About the project

Businesses put gender equality and inclusivity high on their agenda yet, despite this attention, women continue to be under-represented in positions of power in organisations. This joint project between Lancaster University Management School and the Work Foundation aims to shed light on this resilient problem by drawing on a range of international and national sources to identify the scope and range of gender challenges facing UK organisations.

Case studies

The following case studies provide examples of diversity and inclusion challenges in different sectors and how organisations and research initiatives are tackling them.

Targeted MPI

Bruntwood

Inclusive Innovation

Gender Matters brochures

In the second Gender Matters brochure (2020), we drew on a range of sources to illustrate the scope and range of gender and inclusion challenges that we identified as prevalent in 2020. We focused on the gender pay gap, the leadership pipeline and managing the personal and the professional.

In our 2022 brochure, we reflect on the progress of challenges identified in the 2020 edition, including the gender pay gap, the leadership pipeline, and managing personal and professional lives.

Download both brochures below:

Gender Matters brochure 2022

Gender Matters brochure 2020

Reflections and conversations

In this Gender Matters series of reflections and conversations, we ask key stakeholders for their reflections on the gender challenges we identify in our brochures. Our video clips offer insights in response to our 2022 brochure along with a recording of our 2022 brochure launch.

Our podcasts respond to our 2020 brochure and also consider the effects and implications for gender equality at work following the Covid-19 crisis. Together these resources provide a range of perspectives that illuminate the complexity of workplace gender equality challenges and insights into how we can press for change.

Gender Matters 2022 YouTube playlist

Gender Matters Podcast

Gender Matters 2023 Event

An insightful discussion taking place during the Gender Matters 2023 event.

Gender Matters 2023 Event

Members of the audience deep in conversation following the Gender Matters 2023 event presentation.

Gender Matters 2023 Event

The audience listens intently to Professor Valerie Stead.

Gender Matters 2023 Event

Melanie Wilkes addressing the audience.

Gender Matters 2023 Event

Professor Valerie Stead addressing the audience.

Gender Matters 2023 Event

Dr Lara Pecis addressing the audience.

Download the Gender Matters 2023 Event Report

Download event report

News

Lancaster University Management School Professor highlights women leadership issues to UK Government

Lancaster University Management School Professor Valerie Stead has advised a UK government taskforce on how best to address the dearth of women in leadership roles.

Two women and a man in a business meeting.

Gender Matters project sheds light on challenges facing UK business

Lancaster University Management School’s Academy for Gender, Work & Leadership Gender Matters project is highlighting the range of gender inclusion challenges facing UK business.

Gender Matters identifies challenges and opportunities for gender equality

Organisations face complex challenges in their pursuit of gender equality and inclusivity. Professor Valerie Stead explains how the Academy for Gender, Work and Leadership Gender Matters project is identifying challenges and opportunities to bring about change.

Two women and a man working alongside each other at computers

International consortium tackles gender inequality in business and management schools

Lancaster University Management School is part of a new international project aiming to tackle gender inequality issues in business and management schools.

Role models have major influence on female university choices

Women exposed to successful and charismatic role models are more likely to follow them in choosing a university major.

A woman working at a laptop with a child sat on her lap

'Finding gender equality in the blur between home and work'

In a blog for HR Magazine, Professor Val Stead (Entrepreneurship and Strategy) discusses the blurring between work and home lives as a result of Covid-19, and what this means for gender equality at work

More News