Competitiveness at Work: Restructuring and Its Impact

Abstract

The last two chapters have examined the position of women and men as employees in the five organizations, exploring the changing gender dynamic as women become more ambitious and more prepared to challenge male domination at work. But these changes coincide with others which result from the operation of the class dynamic. As women contest more openly with men they find themselves in competition for decreasing numbers of higher posts. While equal opportunities are vaunted, the reality is one of diminishing opportunities for all. Women are having their expectations raised in a climate when it is harder to realize them; and the situation is worse if you are young or from a minority ethnic group. It is in this context that the male backlash, discussed in the last chapter, must be viewed.

‘There’s not much good about it at the moment. The pressure of work, it really destroys you. There’s no incentive. There’s no promotion, no pay rise… Before I used to enjoy coming to work. But now it’s just a job and you get paid for it.’ (civil servant, female)

Things will get worse rather than better. They have done in the last few years.’ (bank clerk, male)