“Like a rush of adrenaline that you get from going somewhere special.” A case study analysis of professional development and gendered experiences in the technology industry

Abstract

Gender inequity perpetually exists in U.S. workplaces. While these issues have manifested in a variety of ways (e.g., pay gap, sex segregation, glass ceiling, leave policies, language, etc.), the dominant discourses that have created and maintained gendered workplace inequities must be continually critiqued. This study approached workplace gender inequity through the theoretical framework of organizational assimilation. Qualitative case study data about women’s workplace and professional development experiences was analyzed, and the study posited an argument for professional development to be used as a tangible tool in addressing workplace inequities. Results indicated that professional development, external to an individual’s workplace, became a powerful and organized setting for gender inequity issues to be analyzed. Within the male-dominated technology industry, this study’s participants were able to better understand and prepare for these situations as they moved back into the workplace. The findings revealed three significant themes: (1) identifying, resisting, and denying sexism; (2) underestimation and overcompensation; (3) TechWomen’s Community and Purpose. This study concludes by discussing theoretical and practical implications for communication, organizations, and gender in the workplace moving forward.