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‘Mothered’ and Othered: (In)visibility of Care Responsibility and Gender in Processes of Excluding Women from Norwegian Law Firms

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Revealing and Concealing Gender

Abstract

In line with a pattern widespread in Western societies, Norwegian professions are characterized by a seemingly paradoxical situation regarding the female proportion: while generally representing the majority in several elite educations and professions, women still constitute a minority in senior and top levels. This gap is particularly conspicuous in increasingly commercialized, prestigious and high commitment segments (Gulbrandsen et al, 2002). In the legal profession, while women currently constitute more than 605 of law school students, and half of the recruits hired by Norwegian corporate law firms, the drop-out from these firms is highly gendered, leaving intact the male dominance (88%) in the most prestigious, powerful and economically rewarding partner positions (Halrynjo, 2008; Lyng, 2008; NSSDS, 2007; Norwegian Bar Association, 2008).

I: But is there anything that could be done in a firm that in some way could make it easier to combine work and family?

R: Why would, like, the firm want that?

I: Well, if they want a higher percentage of women

R: Sure, but they don’t want a higher percentage of women at any cost. And that really is the point. They make accommodations and want to promote women, but the women they want to promote have to make the same choice as the guys. (...) One can’t be bothered to subsidize. That’s kind of how it is.

Male Senior Associate Lawyer

This chapter is based on a research project financed by the Norwegian Research Council (Programme on Working Life Research) and the Norwegian Bar Association. I would like to thank the Editors, Jorun Solheim, Dag Album and sigtona Halrynjo for valuable comments and suggestions.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Work Research Institute of Oslo, Norway

    Selma Therese Lyng (sociologist working)

Authors
  1. Selma Therese Lyng
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Kent Business School, University of Kent, UK

    Patricia Lewis (Senior Lecturer in Management) (Senior Lecturer in Management)

  2. Brunel Business School, Brunel University, UK

    Ruth Simpson (Professor of Management) (Professor of Management)

Copyright information

© 2010 Selma Therese Lyng

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Lyng, S.T. (2010). ‘Mothered’ and Othered: (In)visibility of Care Responsibility and Gender in Processes of Excluding Women from Norwegian Law Firms. In: Lewis, P., Simpson, R. (eds) Revealing and Concealing Gender. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230285576_5

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