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Centre for Workplace Leadership

Gender and Sexuality
at Work

A Multidisciplinary Research and Engagement Conference
Tuesday, 15 February 2022
#GSWC2022

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Accelerating Gender and Sexuality Inclusion at Work

Key Dates

1 September 2021

Call for papers opens

20 December 2021

Final program released

17 January 2021

Registration opens

15 February 2022

Gender and Sexuality at Work Conference

Purpose

This conference has been designed to bring together talent from academia and the broader public and private sectors (both for-profit and not-for-profit) to participate in respectful, professional and rigorous debate about gender and sexuality at work.

We aim to learn from each other, to find better ways to work together in building the knowledge base required to address gender and sexuality at work in healthy and productive ways.

In 2022, the theme of the conference is Accelerating Gender and Sexuality Inclusion at Work. Our knowledge of what works to enhance workplace inclusion is becoming increasingly sophisticated. In this iteration of the conference, we want to continue to explore a wide range of research about gender and sexuality at work, while focusing on what the evidence tells us can be done to accelerate gender and sexuality inclusion at work and in organisations.

Learn more

Why participate

As presenters, you will have the opportunity to:

  • showcase your research, which may be especially beneficial for Early Career Researchers and Higher Degree Research students
  • receive early feedback from peers with shared research interests
  • develop new research partnerships
  • connect with other academics
  • discuss the implications of your research to the broader community and pitch your research ideas to potential partner organisations.

Dr Victor Sojo, Dr Melissa Wheeler, and Professor Michelle Ryan are editing a Special Issue for the Australian Journal of Management (ABDC Journal Ranking: A; Impact Factor: 2.42) about “Accelerating Gender and Sexuality Inclusion in Organisations”.

Academics submitting their short papers for the conference will receive developmental feedback and will be invited to submit a full paper for the special issue to go out for blind peer review. You can also submit a full paper for consideration and blind peer review directly to the special issue.

If you want to develop a case study showcasing strategies to accelerate gender and sexuality inclusion at work, please reach out to us at gsw-conference@unimelb.edu.au to discuss how to curate it and submit it to the special issue for consideration and blind peer review.

Read more about the special issue here.

Additionally, the Australian Journal of Management and the Melbourne Social Equity Institute are co-sponsoring two Best Paper Awards to recognise the best submissions from (1) one Early Career Researcher and (2) one Higher Degree Research student. These awards will be based on the assessments of expert reviewers of the papers and of the Academic Executive Committee.

HDR Students and ECRs who are supervised by the conference organisers or members of the Academic Executive Committee are strongly encouraged to submit their research for presentation, however, they will not be eligible for either award.

As delegates, you will have the opportunity to:

  • have first-hand access to cutting-edge research
  • discuss the implications of new knowledge to your practice
  • connect with academics and other professionals who have similar interests
  • help shape the discussion on improving the quality of research in gender and sexuality at work
  • support a professional, evidence-based and respectful space to advance scientific knowledge on social equity at work.

Conference Code of Conduct

The purpose of this conference is to bring together individuals from academia and the broader public and private sectors. We aim to learn from each other and work together to build the knowledge base required to address gender and sexuality at work in healthy and productive ways.

We are committed to creating an environment that encourages the free and respectful expression and exchange of ideas. Our Code of Conduct has been established to facilitate this aim, ensuring that all participants – including delegates, speakers, staff, volunteers, partners and sponsors – can engage in professional and rigorous debate about gender and sexuality at work.

The organisers are committed to equality of opportunity and treatment for all conference participants, regardless of sex, gender identity, race, ethnic origin, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disabilities, or any other reason not related to scientific and professional merit.

Scope of this Code

This policy applies to all stakeholders associated with the 2022 Gender and Sexuality at Work Conference, including presenters, attendees, partners, sponsors, conference staff, contractors and any other stakeholder interacting with the conference directly or indirectly (e.g., via social media).

Expected Behaviours

  • Treat everyone with respect, dignity, fairness, and courtesy;
  • Communicate openly and thoughtfully with others and be considerate of the different views and opinions expressed during the sessions;
  • Be respectful in your critique of ideas;
  • Be considerate towards fellow conference participants.

Code Breaches

All participants of the Gender and Sexuality at Work Conference will enjoy an environment free from all forms of discrimination and harassment, which undermine the integrity of the conference and will not be tolerated. Attendees who breach this Code of Conduct will be expelled from the conference.

Key definitions:

Sexual harassment comprises unwanted sex-related verbal or physical behaviours (e.g., sexist jokes, sexually suggestive comments, quid pro quo, verbal sexual advances, sexual assault) that the targets find offensive, humiliating, intimidating or threatening to their individual or occupational wellbeing (Sojo, Wood & Genat, 2016).

Harassment on the basis of any other protected characteristic is also strictly prohibited. This conduct includes, but is not limited to the following: epithets, slurs, or negative stereotyping; threatening, intimidating, or hostile acts; denigrating jokes and display or circulation of written or graphic material that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group; disrupting sessions or speakers in a disrespectful manner (European Association of Social Psychology, 2022).

Discrimination refers to bias or prejudice resulting in a denial of opportunity, or unfair treatment in conference activities. Discrimination is practiced commonly on the grounds of age, disability, ethnicity, origin, political belief, race, religion, sex, or any other factors that are irrelevant to a person's competence or suitability (European Association of Social Psychology, 2022).

Disciplinary Actions

Individuals who breach this Code of Conduct will be subject to disciplinary action. Such actions range from a verbal warning to exclusion from the conference and, in some cases, the reporting of their behaviour to their employer.

Reporting an Incident

Any individual who feels that they have been subjected to harassment or discrimination before or during the conference should immediately inform the event organizers of the incident, Dr Victor Sojo, Dr Melissa Wheeler or Professor Michelle Ryan at gsw-conference@unimelb.edu.au or via the conference chat. You can also reach out to the conference moderators in each session of the conference via private message in the conference chat. We will use all reasonable precautions and endeavour to protect the anonymity of persons reporting violations or potential violations.

We are here to support you as a bystander, target, or involved party and are committed to listening to and addressing your concern.

Consulted Bibliography

European Association of Social Psychology (2022). Code of Conduct. Retrieved from https://www.easp.eu/events/coc/

Sojo, V., Wood, R., Genat, A. (2016). Harmful workplace experiences and women’s occupational well-being: A meta-analysis. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 40 (1), 10-40. doi:10.1177/0361684315599346

Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (2022). Discrimination. Retrieved from https://www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/discrimination/

To download this Code of Conduct, click here

In 2022 the GSW Conference had four streams of work:

View the Full 2022 Program and Recordings

1. Keynotes

  • Professor Rae Cooper

    Professor of Gender, Work and Employment Relations, The University of Sydney TOPIC: Building Back Fairer - Applying a gender lens to the post-pandemic future of work

  • Dr Thekla Morgenroth (They/them/their)

    Assistant Professor of Social Psychology, Purdue University TOPIC: The maintenance of the gender/sex binary

2. Paper Presentations

Concurrent peer-reviewed academic paper presentation sessions.

3. Community/Industry-led workshops

Workshops showcasing evidence-based applications of research to work-related issues.

4. Plenary

The final session will discuss how to accelerate gender and sexuality inclusion at work and in organisations.

View the 2022 Conference Proceedings

The 2020 Conference Proceedings are here.

We extend our appreciation to all the sponsors and partners of the Gender and Sexuality at Work Conference.

We would like to specially thank the Faculty of Business and Economics and the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences of The University of Melbourne, Swinburne University of Technology, and The Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at the Australian National University for their generous support.

Thanks

Sponsors

SPONSORSAMS

Partners

Commission for Gender Equality in the Public Sector
Thorne Harbour Health logo
Transgender Victoria logo
Victoria Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
Women's Health East logo
WGEA logo
DCA Logo
GenVic Logo
Ourwatch
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Queerspace

Become involved

Showcase your brand to 500+ delegates engaged with the issues of gender and sexuality at work, and speak directly to C-suite executives, middle managers, HR professionals and academics. Align your organisation with the world-class research from host universities and industry leaders, and highlight your contribution to research on social equity at work.

Contact us below to discuss how we can tailor a package to suit your needs.

Organisers

Dr Victor Sojo, The University of Melbourne

Dr Melissa Wheeler, Swinburne University of Technology

Prof Michelle Ryan, The Australian National University

Executive Academic Committee

Professor Anne Bardoel - Department of Management and Marketing, Swinburne University of Technology

Professor Julie Bernhardt AM - The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and WiSPP

Professor Frank Bongiorno - Research School of Social Sciences, The Australian National University

Professor Anna Chapman - Melbourne Law School

Professor Valerie Francis - Melbourne School of Design

Professor Natalie Hannan - Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne

Professor Giles Hirst - Research School of Management, Australian National University

Professor Mary Lou Rasmussen, School of Sociology, Australian National University

Professor Leah Ruppanner - School of Social and Political Sciences, The University of Melbourne

Senior Faculty Dr Sarah Russell - Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre - WiSPP - Swinburne University of Technology

Professor Emma Sherry - Department of Management and Marketing, Swinburne University of Technology

Associate Professor Kylie Smith - Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne

Professor Christine Thong - Design Factory Melbourne, Swinburne University of Technology

Event Manager

Kristy Horne – Swinburne University of Technology

Operations Team

PhD Candidate Lindsie Arthur-Hulme – The University of Melbourne

Natalie Barr – The Australian National University

PhD Candidate Rachael Hadoux – The University of Melbourne

Nora Jain – The Australian National University

PhD Candidate Georg Tamm - The University of Melbourne

PhD Candidate Porntida (Mai) Tanjitpiyanond – The University of Queensland

Dr Blair Williams - The Australian National University

Media team

Sarah Corridon, Conference Comms Lead - The University of Melbourne. Media inquiries: 0413 927 848

Stefan Manuk, Social Media  Advisor - The University of Melbourne

Shaun Prinsloo, Digital Product Manager - The University of Melbourne

COVID-19 and Hosting the Conference Online

We have been closely monitoring the rapidly evolving situation with COVID-19 community transmission across Australia. Considering government and expert advice about the expected peak of COVID-19 transmission in Australia being close to the GS@W Conference date, we have decided to host the event entirely online.

Although this was a difficult decision, we believe it is the best way to ensure the safety of all our presenters, partners, sponsors, delegates and staff, and to play our part in protecting our community and the healthcare system.

Support for interstate Higher Degree by Research students

WISE Employment sponsored four interstate PhD students based in Australia to present at the conference, including an economy return flight and one night accommodation for each student. Also, WISE Employment will host a roundtable for the scholarship recipients to share the findings and implications of their studies with key People and Culture staff at WISE.

Given the conference will now be exclusively online, scholarship awardees will not have to travel to Melbourne to attend.

Accessibility

If you have any access requirements, please note them in the conference registration form or contact us below by the 27th of January 2022 so we can discuss suitable arrangements.

Submissions for the Conference are now closed

We invited academics and higher degree research students to submit short papers of their original research on gender and sexuality at work for oral presentations.

Call for submissions

We welcome research on work issues relevant to individuals with specific gender identities, sexual orientations or sexual characteristics, as well as comparisons across these and other intersecting life dimensions. The research can be local, from specific regions around the world or cross-national. In 2022, we want submissions to be related to the conference theme: Accelerating Gender and Sexuality Inclusion at Work.

Your research may directly address the question of what works to accelerate gender and sexuality inclusion at work and in organisations, or it can inform how to develop strategies with this purpose.

In 2022, the conference will be hosted both face to face and online. This opens the possibility for international presenters and delegates to participate. We strongly encourage researchers from all over the world and in particular from the Asia Pacific region to submit their research and to join us online on the day of the conference.

Below, we list some of the areas that are relevant to work studies. This is not an exhaustive list; it is instead meant to provide an indication of the range of topics to be included in this conference. Research included in submissions should focus on how these topics intersect with gender identity, sexual characteristics, and sexual orientation.

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation
  • Disruptive models of production/service delivery
  • Employment segregation
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Health – personal, occupational and social wellbeing
  • Homelessness
  • Incivility, harassment and abuse
  • Interpersonal conflict
  • Leadership and leaders’ advocacy
  • Migration, forced migration, and refugees
  • Organisational culture and climate
  • Sport and sport organisations
  • Retirement models and impacts
  • Sex work
  • Small and medium enterprises
  • Technology - opportunities and risks
  • Transition from education into work
  • Unemployment and re-employment
  • Union movements
  • Unpaid work
  • Volunteer work
  • Work-life interface, boundaries and balance
  • Workers’ rights and discrimination
  • Workplace design

Key Dates

1 September 2021

Paper submission opens

15 October 2021

Paper submission closes

30 November 2021

Paper acceptance notification

17 December 2021

Registration deadline for presenting authors

20 December 2021

Final program released

14 January 2022

Deadline revised papers for proceedings

17 January 2021

Registration opens

Find out more

15 February 2022

Gender and Sexuality at Work Conference

Submission guidelines

Submissions for the Conference are now closed.

Please see below guidelines for the Special Issue on “Accelerating Gender and Sexuality Inclusion in Organisations” we are editing for the Australian Journal of Management.

Short paper review process

Papers submitted for presentation at the conference will be peer-reviewed and authors will be advised of their acceptance by the 12th of November 2021. Please note that by submitting a short paper to the conference, you are also agreeing to review at least one (likely two) short paper(s) submitted by other authors in order to contribute to the peer-review process.

All Conference papers will be refereed using an open review process, (i.e., the identity of the authors and reviewers are known to each other). The transparency of open peer review encourages accountability and civility, generally improving the overall quality of the review and article. We therefore ask reviewers to provide rigorous and collegiate feedback that is designed to help other authors develop their work.

Reviewers will also be asked to rate the quality of the papers along seven dimensions that will help us select the best papers to be presented and to decide on the two Best Paper Awards. The average rating from the two reviewers will only be seen by the Academic Executive Committee.

Papers will be evaluated on a five-point rating scale based on the quality of:

  1. The introduction and framing of the research
  2. The methodology applied to address the topic
  3. Data analysis conducted and results clarity
  4. Discussion of theoretical implications
  5. Discussion of practical implications
  6. Intersectional considerations
  7. Multidisciplinary approach

Special Issue

Dr Victor Sojo, Dr Melissa Wheeler, and Professor Michelle Ryan are editing a Special Issue for the Australian Journal of Management (ABDC Journal Ranking: A; Impact Factor: 2.42) about “Accelerating Gender and Sexuality Inclusion in Organisations”.

Academics submitting their short papers for the conference will receive developmental feedback and will be invited to submit a full paper for the special issue to go out for blind peer review. You can also submit a full paper for consideration and blind peer review directly to the special issue.

If you want to develop a case study showcasing strategies to accelerate gender and sexuality inclusion at work, please reach out to us at gsw-conference@unimelb.edu.au to discuss how to curate it and submit it to the special issue for consideration and blind peer review.

More about the special issue can be found here.

Panel discussions, workshops and symposia

We are inviting organisations that have accumulated extensive expertise on gender, sexual orientation and sexual characteristics at work over the years to prepare specific knowledge sharing activities during the conference. If you are interested in organising a panel discussion, workshop or symposium as part of the conference please get in contact. We look forward to hearing your ideas.

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