Emma Hitchcock
Doctor of Philosophy candidate
Master of Business in Management with First Class Honours
Bachelor of Business in Human Resource Management and Employment Relations & Management
Gender equality is crucial for ensuring equal opportunities and fair treatment in the labour market, says Emma Hitchcock who is focusing on the topic for her PhD in management.
“Despite significant progress, gender inequality persists globally and in Aotearoa New Zealand. Women continue to face lower employment rates, higher underemployment and underutilisation rates, and a gender pay gap of 8.6 percent. These inequalities are even more pronounced for minority groups such as Māori and Pasifika women.
“My PhD research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the landscape of feminist activism in Aotearoa New Zealand. It will highlight the work that feminist activists do, often unpaid, to challenge and reduce gender discrimination in the labour market. This study seeks to explore the motivations and experiences of gender equality advocates of all genders, including the crucial role of male allies. It will also examine how gender intersects with feminist activism and the struggle for gender equality in the labour market.”
She believes this study – which is being supervised by Professor Katherine Ravenswood and Associate Professor Fiona Hurd from the AUT Business School – will add to our knowledge of the impact of gender inequality and the ways in which activism can be better supported.
“The findings from this research could be of benefit to organisations, governments, policymakers and other key groups to better understand the motivations and experiences of feminist activists, and to learn from these activists’ successes. Women in work could directly benefit from this research, potentially increasing women's participation and leadership in work. Additionally, this research may raise public awareness and encourage a more equitable society.”
An enjoyable journey
Emma says her journey into the world of business and management started when she was 26 and decided to enrol in a Bachelor of Business.
“I wanted to progress my career, and as part of my personal development within the organisation I worked for, I asked them if they would support me in going to AUT part-time to complete a Bachelor of Business in Human Resource Management and Employment Relations & Management. This ended up being a decade-long journey, with three children in between!
“I didn’t do very well at school, so I was drawn to AUT’s smaller class sizes and environment. I wouldn’t have done as well at any other university, with lectures in big lecture halls. I’ve appreciated AUT’s diverse community and learning environment; it has never felt elitist or exclusive. Throughout my time here, I’ve continued to feel supported by the faculty staff who are always positive and encouraging.”
Because she thoroughly enjoyed her bachelor’s degree, Emma didn’t hesitate when the opportunity to progress into postgraduate study came up.
“I’ve been very fortunate to have been awarded two scholarships; an AUT Postgraduate Research Scholarship – Faculty of Business, Economics and Law for my master’s degree, and AUT’s Vice-Chancellor’s Doctoral Scholarship for my PhD. Pursuing a Master of Business was a rewarding experience, and I decided to continue towards a PhD because there’s so much more to learn and understand. I like the idea that the findings from my research could hopefully be of benefit to others.”
Advice for other students
Emma has some great advice for other students.
“There are so many support services and resources available that you can succeed, and you can succeed exceptionally well. If I can do it, you can do it too.”
She wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the business programmes to other students.
“There are plenty of opportunities through practical experiences like work integrated learning, networking opportunities, employability and career support, and academic staff who went above and beyond to support my transition from a Bachelor of Business to a Master of Business, through to a PhD.”
