ESG, Gender, and Inclusion In Organizations

This session invites contributions that examine the relationship between ESG, gender, and inclusion in organizational settings, with particular attention to participation, accountability, rights, and democratic voice. As ESG frameworks become increasingly influential in corporate governance, public institutions, and organizational strategy, important sociological questions emerge regarding who is included, how inclusion is defined, and which forms of inequality remain insufficiently visible within sustainability-related governance processes.

The session is especially interested in moving beyond narrowly managerial or compliance-based understandings of ESG in order to explore its broader organizational and democratic implications. How are gender and inclusion translated into organizational practices, governance structures, accountability mechanisms, and decision-making processes? Under what conditions do ESG frameworks promote meaningful participation and institutional change, and when do they remain symbolic, selective, or unevenly implemented? How are workers, communities, civil society actors, and other affected groups represented, recognized, or excluded in ESG-oriented governance?

The session also welcomes papers that connect ESG to human rights, organizational democracy, labor relations, diversity and inclusion policies, sustainability governance, social accountability, and the politics of representation. Contributions may address theoretical, empirical, comparative, or critical perspectives across different organizational and institutional contexts, including firms, public organizations, NGOs, educational institutions, and transnational governance settings.