Based on my research aim of covering a gap in the literature on corporate gender equality standards, I research the effects and limits of corporate gender equality standards through a feminist poststructuralist perspective using the case study of the EDGE standard. Based on a qualitative research design, I build an analytical framework on Carol Bacchi’s ‘What’s the Problem Represented to be’ (WPR) approach to analyze the material in form of the five assessment areas of the EDGE standard. Based on the feminist post-structuralist perspective, my analysis showcases that the EDGE standard as a governance tool is not guided by tangible ‘problems' that exist ‘out there’ but rather through the representation of ‘problems’ as framed in the EDGE standard. The EDGE standard is thus a productive force that give shape and meaning to various problems of gender inequality which at the same time, the standard is also meant to address. I conclude that in some cases, the EDGE standard can have positive effects. However, the lack of an intersectional approach limits the EDGE standard too. This thesis contributes to the field by closing a research gap in the academic literature on the effects and limits of corporate gender equality standards analyzed through a feminist poststructuralist lens. / Jeg undersøger virkningerne og begrænsningerne af ligestillingsstandarder i organisationer gennem en feministisk poststrukturalistisk analyse af organisationsstandarden ’EDGE’. Baseret på mit mål om at afdække manglende forskning af ligestillingsstandarder anvender jeg et kvalitativt forskningsdesign som bygger på Carol Bacchis 'What’s The Problem Represented To Be’ for at analysere materialet i form af de fem vurderingsområder i EDGE-standarden. Med baggrund i det feministisk post-strukturalistiske perspektiv viser analysen, at EDGE-standarden som et styringsværktøj ikke styres af konkrete 'problemer', der eksisterer 'derude', men snarere styres gennem repræsentationen af ​​'problemer' som de indrammes og konstrueres i EDGE-standarden. EDGE-standarden er således en produktiv kraft, der giver form og mening til forskellige problemer inden for diskrimination og ligestilling mellem kønnene samtidigt med at standarden også er udviklet til at tackle disse ’problemer’. Jeg konkluderer, at EDGE-standarden i nogle tilfælde kan have positive effekter, men manglen på en tværgående og intersektionelle tilgange til EDGE’s fem vurderingsområder begrænser imidlertid også EDGE-standarden. Dette speciale bidrager til feltet inden for ligestilling og organisationsstandarder ved at afdække virkningerne og grænsningerne af erhvervslivets ligestillingsstandarder analyseret gennem en feministisk poststrukturalistisk perspektiv.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is a personal, poststructuralist study of the researcher’s mapping of the self. The researcher refers to her art practice as an action of research and at the same time, a process of reality production. The images that are created through the art making processes, feeds back into reality. The argument for the production of reality images, relies specifically on the non-representational ‘model’ of Deleuze and Guattari. The foundation of this study is based on a theoretical and practical study of the role of personal space and objects in this complex network of production. This thesis argues for the consideration of self as an ‘open’ map and to expand the fiction and idea of representation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis is persoonlike, poststrukturalistiese ondersoek na die navorser se kartering van die self. Die navorser verwys veral na haar kunspraktyk as aksie van ondersoek en tergelykertyd ’n proses van werklikheidsproduksie. Die beelde wat deur die kunsmaakpraktyk/-proses geskep word, voer terug na die werklikheid. Die argument vir die produksie van werklikheidsbeelde steun veral op Deleuze en Guattari se nie-representasionele ‘model’. Teoretiese en praktiese studie van die rol van persoonlike ruimtes en objekte in hierdie komplekse produksienetwerk vorm die grondslag waaruit die studie voortspruit. In hierdie tesis word uiteindelik geargumenteer vir die beskouing van die self as ‘oop’ kaart ten einde die fiksie en idee van representasie oop te maak en uit te brei. kartering, objekte, roetes, versamelings, werklikheidsbeelde, poststrukturalisme, beelde, tekening