We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
MEN OCCUPY THE majority of senior positions in the civil service in Ireland, but they are more likely than women to perceive gender bias in promotional competitions, according to a study published today.
The ESRI research draws on survey responses from 904 civil servants within the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) from 2018, as well as administrative data from the department.
In an attempt to tackle gender imbalance at the DAFM, the 2018 survey was carried out as a means of determining what future actions should be taken.
The report examines gender differences in areas such as flexible working, promotions, training and networking.
Over a third of workers surveyed believe that using flexible work options negatively impacts their chances of promotion.
The study found that although women are significantly more likely to perceive that they had experienced gender bias within the department, men are more likely to believe that there is gender bias in promotional competitions that favours women.
However, analysis of administrative data on recent promotional competitions showed that there were no significant differences in the success rate of men and women who applied for various roles.
“This suggests a misperception among employees of how the gender balance initiative is implemented within the civil service,” the ESRI report notes.
Flexible work options
The take-up of flexible work options is high in the department, with over a third of workers currently using flexible work options.
However, some specialist/technical grades have lower rates of participation. The use of these options differs by gender and childcare responsibilities, with women and those with children more likely to use these options.
The research also found that the use of flexible work options has a positive effect on perceptions of departmental support for work-life balance.
“Despite this, over a third of workers believe that using flexible work options negatively impacts their chances of promotion. The proportion was even higher among those who had availed of leave schemes and flexible options in the past,” the report notes.
Training
A high proportion of workers in the DAFM participated in training in the two years prior to the survey. However, participation was highly gendered.
Women were found to be “significantly less likely to have participated in training compared to their male counterparts”.
“Although women and men felt equally encouraged to apply for positions in the department, women are significantly less likely to have applied for a promotion in the two years prior to the survey.”
The report notes that transparency with employees around how the gender balance initiative is implemented in the department “is needed to address misperceptions surrounding gender bias in promotions”.
The ESRI advises that regular surveys, similar to the one carried out by the DAFM, should be implemented in other departments to assist in identifying barriers to gender equality in the civil service.
The report also states that the use of flexible work options “should be normalised for both men and women”.
The ESRI also recommends that the availability of flexible work options should be extended to “predominantly male” jobs and that women should be encouraged and facilitated to participate in training.
Speaking about the report’s findings, author Helen Russell stated: “There is a widespread view that flexible working damages promotion opportunities.
Increasing the availability and take-up of such options by men would normalise this practice and may help to reduce the perception that take up of flexible work options signals reduced work commitment. It may also help dispel the view that actions to promote equality only benefit female workers.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, welcomed the publication of the report.
“While the challenges in achieving gender balance are acknowledged, it is heartening to see the work done to combat the challenges. I am committed to the principle of equal opportunities for all in the workplace as in society,” McConalogue said.
He added that his department will examine the report’s findings and what measures need to be implemented.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
I’m a civil servant in a small dept <150 people. It is a top heavey dept. In the last 5 years women have replaced men in all the senior positions (AP and up).
@John Murphy: Great to hear. Decades of men always getting the top job v 5 years of women. A few more years of this and there might finally be balance.
@Ailbhe STAY HOME: might finally free up middle management positions for new employees also
@Ailbhe STAY HOME: I agree with you to a point but it still doesnt make it fair and balanced. 2 wrongs dont make a right.
@John Murphy: Reversing a wrong can offer justice.
A metaphor used to describe racism works with sexism as well. Imagine 3 men are playing monopoly for 2 hours. They buy up all the properties, put houses and hotels on the properties and the money slowly drains from the bank into their stash. Then they allow the women to play. They okay under the same rules, at the same time using the same tactics. But the women strangely only manage to get Busáras and Kimmage between them. One goes bankrupt after 15 minutes because she landed on two hotels.
It’s equality because they play by the same rules, but not equity because they don’t have the same opportunities.
@Ailbhe STAY HOME: What’s balanced about it. It’s only balanced when the best person for the job gets it. Sex shouldn’t come into. Gender balance and gender quotas are nonsense.
@Seosamh Ohuaine: Spot on.
@John Murphy: sure the comments section is full of civil servants. Is it a good thing. I don’t think so
@Ailbhe STAY HOME: So inequality to the detriment of women is wrong but it’s okay against men so that we can reach balance. Hmm
@Ailbhe STAY HOME: So you’re talking about inequality towards the young men who look to succeed today for the sins of their fathers? I’m sorry but to me that points towards a see-saw approach to inequality. Pretty soon it will be men who demand equality and then we’re back in the same position with just the genders reversed. Surely best person for the job will right all wrongs or do you feel that women need a step up to be equal to men?
@Ailbhe STAY HOME: Your analogy creates the false impression that all men have benefitted from a system that was designed for their interests. This is not true and has never been true. The system was designed by the powerful for the powerful.
Gender, race, religion, all just handy wedges to keep the little people fighting amongst themselves while those who control the system are laughing all the way to the bank (which they own anyway).
@Darren Doyle McCormack: Never said it was ok. But it’s another way to justice. The current method isn’t working. We don’t have gender balance after a century of fighting for it.
What workable solution is there that won’t make men feel discriminated against, but will create equality and equity? In truth, there is none. For there to be equality and equity, some will always feel hard done by. Hence the headline above.
@Will: Nail on head. The vast majority are part of no patriarchy. I don’t earn more than any of the women in my job and nor should I. Sick of it.
@Ailbhe STAY HOME: you heavily implied it was
@Ailbhe STAY HOME: You suggested that as a way of ‘justice’, these method of equaling the playing field was okay.
@Darren Doyle McCormack: It’s one notion of justice. Interesting to see when I suggest systematic inequality to fix systematic inequality, the men are up in arms when they suffer, but not when they benefit.
I suggested it as a simple social experiment to see the response it would get. Not as angry as I expected, but certainly close.
@Ailbhe STAY HOME: There’s no anger coming from anyone as far as I can see. I feel like I’m going around in circles everytime I talk to you so I’m done with you now. Enjoy doing your “social experiments”
@Ailbhe STAY HOME: Men have to take these positions because women are taking all the jobs in nursing and primary education. Force women to do engineering and enter the army and that type of thing and then there’ll be more jobs in nursing and primary education for males. If boys in school don’t see any male teachers, they’ll be less likely to enter the profession themselves #can’tseeitcan’tbeit
It’s clear most *top level* positions are held by men. The civil service will need to address the reasons why female employees cannot or do not want to progress to top level management to balance top level appointments. For example progressing beyond HEO means loss of flexitime.
@Conal Byrne: and in some cases time is more important than money
@Conal Byrne: You should research Jordan Petersen. He’s got some great arguments on equality of outcome VS equality of opportunity.
@Jeremiah A Craic: He’s also an alt right misogynist, so no, don’t check him out. Just because it sounds good, doesn’t make it true. It’s confirmation bias for other misogynists that feel threatened by women.
@Jeremiah A Craic: Thanks but no thanks. I am familiar with Mr Peterson and find his views anathema to everything I believe in.
@Jeremiah A Craic: looks like some people did research Jordan Petersen and in the process learned a little bit more about you.
@Ailbhe STAY HOME: I have to say those labels don’t apply to Dr. Petersons views, in my opinion. His work thus far has questioned the motivations of these type of studies, which by their methodology only enforces, wrongly held, common belief in a patriarchy.
@Dec OR: has questioned not proved. The carnivore diet is dangerous and I hope he recovers, I have a problem with saying one thing and doing another
@Ailbhe STAY HOME: I don’t think I’d agree with your view of Peterson as Alt Right or as a misogynist. I’ve listened to many of his interviews. He agrees that gender bias happens but that it’s not the only reason why women don’t climb executive ladders. Another reason is choice. Because climbing the executive ladder leads to a lot less flexibility in work/life balance. Many men make the same choice. I’m one of them. I prefer a balance between my work week and my lifestyle.
@Conal Byrne: Never stated that he’s proved anything, only questioned the motivations and methodology of these studies. The whole premise of this article is that these ‘findings’ somehow show gender bias, when at the outset this finding was presumed. Looking at such a complex issue solely on a single factor is wrong and misleading and should always be questioned.
@Dave O’Keeffe: I suggested someone look an alterior point of view, the only thing that says about me is that I look at both sides of an argument.
@Ailbhe STAY HOME: can you post a link to back up that opinion?
@my name: Hey anonymous lad, I don’t let other people tell me my opinion, via links to blogs or articles. I form my own. It would help if you did too.
@Ailbhe STAY HOME: I hear people say this a lot but they can never point to anything he has done/said to back up their claims. Have you some new information on this perhaps?
@Ailbhe STAY HOME: so you’re entitled to your opinions but you’re also very entitled to be wrong on this. If you can not point to anything the man has said or done to show he’s alt right then you’re just name calling someone who’s views you don’t agree with. It’s very immature
@my name: Most feminist and SJW’s resort to these tactics as they know their original arguments are incorrect.
@Jamo: wouldn’t know a fact if it introduced itself to her
@Ailbhe STAY HOME: “so what you are saying” is I should not read anybody you disagree with.
@Ailbhe STAY HOME: “He’s also an alt right misogynist”
Jordan Peterson has been labelled alt right because some on the right have latched on to him for their own agenda.
He is not alt right nor is he a misogynist. He’s just a psychology professor with some rather mundane advice on how to approach life.
Nothing he has ever said is even that controversial but because he refused to be compelled by law to use certain pronouns he was labelled as a transphobe. (hence why the alt right claimed him) His issue wasn’t even with trans people, his issue was with the government compelling speech of any kind.
Watch any of his lectures on youtube. I doubt you’ll be offended. It’ll be a struggle just to stay awake.
@my name: says obi wan kenobe wannabe
@my name: you’re all so easily wound up. Perhaps you shouldn’t so emotionally invest in what strangers say on the internet
@Ailbhe STAY HOME: you made an accusation against a mans character when you were asked to back that up, you couldn’t. You seem to be the stamping your feet around. You still have qualified why you think he’s Alt Right or misogynist
@Shamey: you want to know a secret Shamey? obi wan isn’t a real person
@Ailbhe STAY HOME: What he says is based on stats/research and being trained to form an educated view. What’s your opinion and name calling based on? A different view to yours doesn’t make him anti-women.
@my name: I repeat, you’re all so easy to wind up.
@Ailbhe STAY HOME: ok got it. so outright lies about someone are fine if you do it – ‘just a wind up’, but there’s something wrong with calling you out on it?
@Neill Mcilwaine: Lol, deep breaths Neill. No need to go to war to defend your man crush
@Ailbhe STAY HOME: It shows a serious lack of character and self awareness that you cant seem to engage honestly with anyone here, just pushing out lies and insults. Good evening.
Equality is for everyone I thought. But if one gender in this case has disproportionately more high level positions its not fair ? It becomes an inequality issue as opposed to the right person got the job at the time.
Are women in this case being barred from applying?
Are women being barred from being on the interview panel?
Are less capable men getting these jobs ahead of more capable women?
@john s: read my comment above. There are sacrifices to be made if you choose to go high up in the civil service. Time is more important than money for some people. That is just one issue to be considered. Are people barred from applying? Get a grip
I’m in a job where women make up 10% of all staff but make up 40% of management.
“men are more likely to believe that there is gender bias in promotional competitions that favours women.”
I know a few men who think this. They don’t pass an interview and its “because they’re only promoting women”. Such BS
Decades of being told we live in a meritocracy only for women to be held back even if they are the best person for a role.
Now apparently it’s still a meritocracy but, to right this wrong there has to be gender balance- paving the way for quotas and undoubtedly incidents of the best person being held back because of past ills.
What a time to be alive
I wonder what the disparity is in the applicant pool – i.e if the applicant pool for such jobs was 80% men and 20% women then it wouldn’t be surprising that more men get hired.
Yes women take up more flexitime roles and dont go for more time-consuming promotions cause the majority of the childcare responsibility falls to them and is backed up by societies expectations which is borne out in our Paternity & maternity leave. If both men and women shared the childcare responsibility equally then I’d expect there to naturally be 50/50 in senior management eventually. Both men and women are equally ambitious and capable of senior manage roles if given the time, chance and opportunity by both companies, society and family.
@Aisling Gilchrist: That’s an assumption. The assumption being that gender is a social construct. It may be that more women on average want to to spend time at home with their children when they are young than men – on average.This would be a choice.
Gender bias is always wrong no matter the era. To try to balance it up now based solely on gender is not right.
have your say