A few good men: Gender balance in the Western Australian public relations industry

In a PhD being undertaken through Central Queensland University, Perth public relations professional Greg Smith will examine why communication management and public relations roles are increasingly attracting disproportionate numbers of women (or conversely, why there are so few men). In the work-in-progress commentary piece below,Greg outlines some preliminary research directions. His thesis will examine why industry feminisation has occurred, and assess whether a female-dominated industry will alter the way public relations is perceived, practised, and taught. Greg is interested in feedback on his research directions, particularly from practitioners, and in hearing from other researchers working in similar areas.