Workplace Heating and Gender Discrimination

Andreas Albertsen*, Viki Møller Lyngby Pedersen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaperJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Across Europe, countries are reducing CO 2 emissions and energy demand by lowering the temperature in public office buildings. These measures affect men and women unequally because the latter prefer and, indeed, perform better under higher temperatures than the standard temperature. Lowering the temperature thus further increases an already existing inequality. We show that the philosophical literature on discrimination provides an interesting theoretical approach to understanding such measures. On prominent understandings of what discrimination is, the policy would be considered direct discrimination against women if it could be shown to reflect a broader inattentiveness to the needs of women in society. Alternatively, and more straightforwardly, the policies can be considered indirect discrimination because of their disparate effects on men and women. The final part of the paper shows that the policies are also wrong for the reasons it is often argued that discrimination is wrong—to wit, that it harms or disrespects those who are discriminated against. The final section suggests a range of measures to offset the discriminatory aspects of the policy.

Original languageEnglish
JournalBioethics
Volume38
Issue2
Pages (from-to)107-113
Number of pages7
ISSN0269-9702
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2024

Keywords

  • biological discrimination
  • discrimination
  • gender discrimination
  • harm-based discrimination
  • workplace discrimination
  • workplace heating

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