Australian financial services and workplace gender inequity: A critical feminist economic analysis

The study explores how workplace discrimination against women is maintained or challenged within Australia’s largest financial services workforces. Analysing workforce statistical datasets, organisation reporting, and, interviews, the research uncovers patterns and omissions in sector workplace gender equity discourse and disclosure. This study delivers an original contribution extending feminist political economy analysis to reveal a prevalence of workplace gender equity discourses based on neo-classical economic assumptions about gender relations: Post-Feminism; Meritocracy; and, Commodifying Gender Equity. The study is significant, articulating how unquestioned neo-classical economic assumptions about gender relations contributes to maintaining workplace gender inequality within the Australian financial services sector.