Between the feminine and the feminist: a review of CSR/Business Ethics approaches to gender issues

This chapter discusses the main theoretical frameworks used to analyze CSR approaches concerning gender issues, as they are evolving in most recent literature. The aim of the chapter is to propose how values such as inclusivity, commitment to care ethics, and cooperation can represent drivers of gender balance and gender justice if adequately framed when linked to CSR. To do so, we recall the terms of the debate, held during the mid-1990s, on distinctive features and capabilities of the “feminine firm” versus the “feminist firm” as a cornerstone distinction able to guide the subsequent and current debate. As this debate has been revitalized and integrated by Business Ethics scholars in 2017, the current work provides a critical review of relevant literature followed to that reassessment. By summarizing the discussion of the main theoretical frameworks adopted in recent literature (2017–2022), we highlight how contributions may (or may not) be ascribed to the “feminist firm” approach and, in particular, to the “feminist Agenda” for gender issues and Business Ethics developed by Derry in 1996. We suggest that the theoretical framework adopted greatly affect how research and policy proposal concerning gender issues and gender imbalance are presented. Ultimately, we argue that most of the current streams of literature on CSR and gender do not display a clear “feminist firm” approach; largely, it focuses on a narrow understanding of the gender imbalance by relating it to single representational issues while disregarding the systemic power structure imbalance. We therefore suggest further path of research more apt to capture business’ possibilities to engage in gender equality and justice.