Gendering Invention Process in Industrial Plant - revisiting Tokenism, Gender and Innovation.

Purpose: This article provides an analysis of the gendering process of product innovation. Interwoven into this process is the encapsulation of a token position. The article aims to expand and deepen the tokenism theory through the discussion of gender in invention process, by drawing from recent and classical theories of gender, ranging from gendering approaches (Gherardi&Poggio 2004), to Acker's theory of gendered organisations and processes within organisations (Acker, 1992) and Moss Kanter's tokenism theory (Kanter, 1977). Accordingly, the main objective is to address this gap in tokenism discussion and introduce renewed concept of 'processual tokenism'. One of the outcomes is that the gendering of a product is triggered by tokenism, and can be interpreted also as a deliberate and successful process. Design/Methodology/Approach: The article builds on an intensive single case study and uses narrative methodology and approach in the analysis of the data of the case in question. The primary data used in the narratives consists of interview data. The article uses also documents and reports as secondary data in the narrative construction. The approach used is theoretical, interpretative and qualitative. Findings: The article provides a detailed narrative of the intertwined nature of gender position in an organization and the invention process. The gendering of a product is triggered by tokenism within the organization, and can be interpreted also as a deliberate and successful process. Research limitations/implications: The approach is based on a single case study of chemical invention process. The limitations may relate to the specificities of the case in question. Originality/Value: The article contributes to the debates on gendered organisations by focusing on gendering through tokenism in one organization, the persistence of male dominance, and on gender theories by analysing the gendering of a product innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]