Effectiveness of gender equality and diversity initiatives : a way forward

Globally, gender inequality in the workplace results in extreme poverty and unfair, unjust access to rewards, resources, and opportunities for women. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 include an end to discrimination against women and the design of decent work for all. Support for the value of equality and diversity in contributing to a country's economy continues to grow but will require superior policy design and implementation. While gender equality and diversity initiatives have been identified as a potential answer to addressing inequality, they appear to be failing in their objectives. The challenge remains to better design and implement gender equality and diversity initiatives to achieve substantive outcomes to address injustice. Three major challenges effect the design and implementation. This chapter explores the approach, type and justice perspectives that influence the design and implementation of initiatives. Our findings indicate achieving gender equality and diversity is a complex business, but recognition for a pluralist approach may be able to influence substantive equity.

© Subas Dhakal, Roslyn Cameron and John Burgess, 2022. All rights reserved.