‘No Reporting About Us, Without Us’: Exploring the Impact of UK Surveillance Practices on Gender Inequality in London’s Financial Services Sector.

Abstract

Stagnant gender pay gap progress suggests that monitoring practices have not gone far enough in generating substantive progress towards gender equality – a fundamental human right. This study draws upon qualitative evidence from female employees in London’s financial services sector, alongside corporate narratives to explore the impacts of surveillance on everyday attitudes and behaviours. Through the construction ofa feminist consciousness, the study reveals that the narrow, numerical parameters of traditional monitoring theory and practice are limiting the progression of gender equality. This supports recommendations towards additional qualitative benchmarking criteria to both measure and drive cultural change against current patriarchal norms.