O Clube que Ninguém Anuncia: Redes Masculinas de Poder nos Negócios e o Custo da Exclusão Feminina

Abstract

This article examines how informal male power networks, commonly known as old boys' clubs, contribute to gender inequality in the labor market, particularly regarding access to leadership positions. It argues that although formal legal barriers to women's participation have largely been removed, informal mechanisms based on trust, referrals, and networking continue to favor men and reproduce historical patterns of exclusion. The study traces the origins of these networks to gentlemen's clubs, country clubs, and financial institutions that historically excluded women, connecting this evolution to the concepts of homosocial reproduction, homophily, social identity, and the glass ceiling. It also analyzes structural factors such as the gendered division of labor, masculine leadership norms, and the false neutrality of meritocracy, which hinder women's career advancement. The article highlights the consequences of these dynamics, including women's underrepresentation in leadership, economic disparities, greater vulnerability during economic crises, and psychological impacts associated with the double burden of professional and domestic responsibilities. Finally, it argues that public policies, affirmative action, cultural change, and the dismantling of informal power networks are essential to achieving greater gender equality in organizational leadership.