Invitation To Gender: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Procurement Language

Bayyat, Adnan; Kelly, Stephen; Byrne, Angela

Abstract

Global public procurement spend is significant, and in addition to generating value-for-money for taxpayers, it can be used to introduce social change, namely, increasing the number of women-led [sic] businesses who secure competitive public sector contracts. Interventions are typically policy-based set-asides or targets, the success of which has been questioned in several reports and interdisciplinary research. Applying Critical Discourse Analysis as a novel methodology in procurement, this paper analyses the front pages of 24 Invitation to Tenders, revealing how gender-biased language, symbolism and design create asymmetrical power dynamics and perpetuate structural inequalities that prevent female-led [sic] organisations from participating in the public sector tendering process.

Citation

Bayyat, A., Kelly, S., & Byrne, A. (2024, March). Invitation To Gender: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Procurement Language. Paper presented at The 33rd Annual International Purchasing and Supply Education and Research Association Conference, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: The 33rd Annual International Purchasing and Supply Education and Research Association Conference
• Conference Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Start Date: Mar 24, 2024
• End Date: Mar 27, 2024
• Deposit Date: Apr 7, 2024
• Publisher URL: https://ipsera2024.com/