Parents at Work

This unique volume uses the innovative methodological approach of dystopian fictocriticism to offer a speculative, critical narrative of parents at work. The author begins with a review of fictocriticism and the blurring of lines between genre and gender scholarship. The book follows a temporally fragmented structure of the past, present and future of parenthood in organisations. Integrating theories of masculinities and gendered hierarchies in organisations, the author uses critical discourse analysis of parental experiences to discuss the reproduction of patriarchal discourse. The dystopian fictocriticism narrative is grounded in empirical research with parents and highlights the structural and cultural barriers they face. The narrative concludes with the subversive potential of caring communities within organisations as a possible future to work towards.

This book will be of interest to students and scholars in Gender Studies, Utopia/Dystopia Studies, and Organization Studies.

“If only all organisation studies books were such a pleasure to read! This creative book showcases an innovative way to conduct and present social science research whilst unravelling challenging discourses around masculinities in the workplace in an accessible way. In the genre of 'writing differently', this Pivot blurs the boundaries between dystopian fiction and traditional academic writing to craft a short story that reflects findings on fatherhood and parenthood in patriarchal organisations.” (Jamie Callahan, Professor of Organisation & Ethics, Durham University, UK)“Fictocriticism is a new and mould-breaking way of making sense of qualitative data in the social sciences. Gatto’s clear and incisive guide will appeal to anyone who wants to do qualitative work differently, especially within organization studies.” (Mark Learmonth, Professor of Organization Studies, Nottingham Trent University, UK, and Editor-in-Chief, Human Relations)

“Mark Gatto’s book is atour-de-force in the use of dystopian fiction informed critical discourse analysis integrating fiction and ethnographic experiences of working parents in patriarchal organisations. It offers both insightful and gripping counter narratives and deserves to be read widely.” ( Mark NK Saunders, Professor of Business Research Methods, University of Birmingham Business School, UK)

“Confronting the patriarchal character of organisations, Mark Gatto’s book offers a productive new way of understanding and ultimately addressing the discrimination and inequities that arise from being a parent at work. This is the first book of fictocriticism written in the broad fields of management and organisation studies, and this creative methodology has produced a compelling as well as educative text that will serve as a model for others.” (Carl Rhodes, Professor of Organization Studies and Dean, UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney)

Mark Gatto is Lecturer in Critical Organisation Studies at Northumbria University, UK, whose main research interest is Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, particularly in relation to parents at work. Mark is a parent to two children with his wife, Holly, and also leads a parents and carers network as a voice for parents at work.