Led by Dr Meghan Van Portfliet, on 4 March Professor Kate Kenny co-hosted Gender and Whistleblowing: A hidden aspect of speaking up. This event, hosted by the Whitaker Institute, discussed how to date whistleblower research has been largely gender neutral, raising questions about the status of knowledge and understanding in this area.

Questions included: Does whistleblowing research and theory effectively overlook the nuances and complexities of speaking out, for female and non-binary genders? Does gender contribute to the structural disadvantages faced by whistleblowers? What theoretical legacies contribute to gender blindness in this field? Extant research studies show how the capacity to speak out, and the success of disclosures, can be affected by characteristics including gender but also race, age, ethnicity and other categories, but how has this empirical knowledge impacted upon theoretical framings?

In this workshop we were delighted to welcome five panellists who discussed the overlooked gendered dimensions of speaking up. Such a focus is vital if proposed whistleblower protections are to be effective for all whistleblowers.

Whistleblowers play a vital role in drawing attention to cultural and systemic problems within organisations. In this session, whistleblower Dr Tom Clonan shares his experience of highlighting sexual violence and gender based discrimination within the Irish Defence forces. Facilitated by Professor Kate Kenny.