The changing academic workplace : public and private transformations

The workplace is changing from primarily being a site of production to one focused on knowledge creation, where there has been a re-engineering of work in what has been termed post-Fordism. 1 This changing workplace has experienced what some term a feminisation, as women have been entering the labour market in increasing numbers. 2 As Ian Watson, John Buchanan, Iain Campbell and Chris Briggs highlight in their recent book, Fragmented Futures, changing workplace participation has had both positive and negative effects.3 Indeed, with all the talk about feminist theorising, workplace reform and changing societal norms, it would be expected that much has changed for Australian women over the past twenty-five years.