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The purpose of this study is to explore the work-related experiences of women working in the male... more The purpose of this study is to explore the work-related experiences of women working in the male-dominated Swedish IT-sector, in order to analyse what barriers are keeping women out and how they can be understood from a perspective of gender segregation. Theory: The study builds on the theoretical framework by Acker (1990, 2006, 2012), who argues that seemingly gender-neutral organizations in fact are based on institutionalized gendered norms, embedded into the organizations' structures and hierarchies. These gendered norms are based on the image of the 'ideal-worker' being a male as it builds on stereotypical masculine traits, and thus such structures contribute to the reproduction of gender inequality. Method: The study has been conducted by using a qualitative research design, collecting data based on 21 semi-structured interviews with females working in IT-professions. Result: The results confirm that the IT-sector is indeed based upon such stereotypical masculine traits as proposed by Acker, and that the perceived ideal-worker is constructed as male. Masculine skills and abilities are understood as so-called 'tough skills', while women are perceived as having 'softer' skill-sets. These gendered structures and assumptions create barriers for women both in-and outside the sector. As women are unable to identify with the ideal IT-worker concept, females are also less likely to opt for a career within IT. For the women who remain and work in the male-dominated IT industry, results further confirm that women unable to identify with the ideal-male worker also tend to detach from the stereotypically female role, by describing themselves as not very feminine. Moreover, the results show how there is a lack of female role models in the sector, further causing women to be unable to identify with the ideal worker. In other words, there is lack of rolemodels available to women in the IT industry as women are excluded from the idealmale worker type. This, in turn, prevents women to identify with the ideal-male worker as well as female ideals of the sector, and leads to high levels of uncertainty and low levels of self-efficacy. Such exclusive ideals constitute a main barrier to the presence of women in the sector and ultimately to gender segregation that prevents equal access to the IT industry.

The purpose of this study is to explore the work-related experiences of women working in the male... more The purpose of this study is to explore the work-related experiences of women working in the male-dominated Swedish IT-sector, in order to analyse what barriers are keeping women out and how they can be understood from a perspective of gender segregation. Theory: The study builds on the theoretical framework by Acker (1990, 2006, 2012), who argues that seemingly gender-neutral organizations in fact are based on institutionalized gendered norms, embedded into the organizations' structures and hierarchies. These gendered norms are based on the image of the 'ideal-worker' being a male as it builds on stereotypical masculine traits, and thus such structures contribute to the reproduction of gender inequality. Method: The study has been conducted by using a qualitative research design, collecting data based on 21 semi-structured interviews with females working in IT-professions. Result: The results confirm that the IT-sector is indeed based upon such stereotypical masculine traits as proposed by Acker, and that the perceived ideal-worker is constructed as male. Masculine skills and abilities are understood as so-called 'tough skills', while women are perceived as having 'softer' skill-sets. These gendered structures and assumptions create barriers for women both in-and outside the sector. As women are unable to identify with the ideal IT-worker concept, females are also less likely to opt for a career within IT. For the women who remain and work in the male-dominated IT industry, results further confirm that women unable to identify with the ideal-male worker also tend to detach from the stereotypically female role, by describing themselves as not very feminine. Moreover, the results show how there is a lack of female role models in the sector, further causing women to be unable to identify with the ideal worker. In other words, there is lack of rolemodels available to women in the IT industry as women are excluded from the idealmale worker type. This, in turn, prevents women to identify with the ideal-male worker as well as female ideals of the sector, and leads to high levels of uncertainty and low levels of self-efficacy. Such exclusive ideals constitute a main barrier to the presence of women in the sector and ultimately to gender segregation that prevents equal access to the IT industry.