Interventions on gender equity in the workplace: a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Health Sciences
• Gender Studies

Background:

• Gender disparities in the workplace are well-documented, necessitating targeted interventions.
• This study focuses on evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for workplace gender equity.
• An additional aim was to examine interventions considering the intersection of gender with other variables, such as PROGRESS-Plus equity indicators.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and examine evidence from RCTs on interventions promoting gender equity in workplace or volunteer settings.
• To determine if interventions considered the intersection of gender with other variables (e.g., race, ethnicity).

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted using the JBI guide, searching multiple databases from inception to October 2022.
• Interventions were categorized into themes: quantifying gender impacts, behavioral/systemic changes, career flexibility, visibility/recognition, development opportunities, and financial support.
• Data analysis was descriptive, with high-level content analysis used to categorize interventions.

Main Results:

• 24 unique RCTs met inclusion criteria; 91.7% failed to report how sex or gender was established.
• Most studies (95.8%) reported at least one PROGRESS-Plus variable, typically sex, gender, or occupation.
• 24 interventions were identified, with 83.3% showing positive primary outcomes, though few considered non-binary identities or intersectionality.

Conclusions:

• A paucity of literature exists on workplace gender equity interventions.
• Standardized outcome measures considering context and culture are needed.
• Future research must provide consistent definitions of gender and sex, adequately considering non-binary identities and intersectionality.