Doing and undoing gender: women professionals' persistence in technology occupations. Issue 4 (17th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saifuddin, Samina M.; Dyke, Lorraine; Hossain, Md. Sajjad
• Is Part Of: Equality, diversity and inclusion. Volume 41:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 673
• Page End: 690
• Publication Date: 2021-12-17
• Subjects: Women -- Doing gender -- Undoing gender -- Relational framework -- Technology professionals -- Bangladesh; Women -- Employment -- Periodicals; Discrimination in employment -- Periodicals; 305.05
• DOI: 10.1108/EDI-03-2021-0083
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-7149

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: This study aims to identify women professionals' strategies to persist in the male-dominated technology industry situated in the Bangladeshi socio-cultural context. Design/methodology/approach: In-depth interviews with women tech professionals were conducted to identify and explore the strategies. Thematic coding was used for data analysis. Findings: The findings suggest that the complex interplay of macro-, meso- and micro-factors pushes women to defy societal and gender norms in their choice and persistence, yet they simultaneously conform to these norms. By simultaneous expressions of doing and undoing gender, these women dealt with hierarchies and inequalities, navigated masculinized industry and empowered themselves within a patriarchal culture. The strategies effectively allowed them to demonstrate agency and persist in tech occupations. Research limitations/implications: The study participants were women and recruited using snowball sampling. Future research could benefit from recruiting a larger, more varied sample using random sampling. Practical implications: The study can inform teaching and policy initiatives to increase women's representation in tech sectors through awareness campaigns, policy interventions and counseling. Originality/value: The research extends the doing and undoing framework by integrating the relational perspective to explain women's agency and resilience situated in a patriarchal context. The paper focuses on women's micro-individual strategies to navigate macro- and meso-level forces. Moreover, Bangladesh is an under-researched context, and findings from the study can help design potential intervention strategies to increase women's participation.