Why is Gender not Debated in M&A?

Our review shows that M&A research fails to discuss questions of gender. In this chapter, we aim to understand this lack of sensitivity to gender in analyzing how M&A processes unfold. We discuss strategic and people-oriented M&A research, seek to explain why gender and gender relations are not debated therein, and offer some ideas on how they could be incorporated in the analyses. We also consider the contemporary system of academic publishing for understanding the marginal position of gender research in general. Overall, the chapter paves the way for arguing why the gender perspective would benefit M&A research so that it would become better equipped to address the focal phenomenon as constituted in its social, cultural, and economic context.