Gender Equality Policy Implementation -- Managerial Fad or Fade?

Gender equality policy in organizations is an important and extensively researched topic. In recent years, scholars have studied the implementation aspects of gender equality policy. It has been accepted that the scope and effects of gender equality policy implementation fail at times. However, despite extensive evaluations, the specific reasons for gender equality policy implementation failure have rarely been considered. This is an important oversight, given the significance of policy implementation in the organizational domain, to ensure ongoing gender equality policy adaptation and execution. Moreover, previous research has largely focused on various procedural domains, and it is unclear whether these domains will remain valid in the context of gender equality implementation or whether various organizational antecedents may have implications for true gender equality policy implementation. The purpose of this paper is to identify specific barriers--organizational and individual--that impede gender equality policy implementation. We draw upon thirty-three semistructured interviews conducted in the second largest public service organization in Israel. Our findings point to the conclusion that despite massive regulations to promote gender equality, meaningful implementation has not occurred. We identify key organizational and individual barriers and propose practical steps to speed up gender equality policy implementation in the public service sector. The research calls for an enrichment of the literature on the implementation of gender equality policies, incorporating individual and organizational barriers to practices and policies.