‘Bias in, Bias out’: gender equality and the future of work debate

ABSTRACT

The future of work debate is cast with the certainty that technology-driven change is inevitable as numerous pundits profiteer from predicting the future. Among the many books, conferences, workshops and consultancy reports, there is a notable silence regarding the impact on gender. The aim of this article is to present a corrective, by arguing that if the gender bias that is embedded in the current social order is not tackled head-on, the future world of work is likely to exacerbate gender equality gaps.

KEYWORDS:

• Fourth industrial revolution
• automation
• artificial intelligence
• technology
• future of work
• gender
• inequalities

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Notes on contributors

Debra Howcroft

Debra Howcroft is Professor of Technology and Organisation and deputy director of the Work and Equalities Institute at Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester . She is (co) Editor-in-Chief of New Technology, Work and Employment (2012-present). Her research interests cover the area of ICTs and organising, particularly in relation to work and employment

Jill Rubery

Jill Rubery is Professor of Comparative Employment Systems and the Director of the Work and Equalities Institute at Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester. She researches on issues of pay, working time, non standard forms of employment and gender from a labour market segmentation perspective.