Implications of Respectable Feminity Norms for Women’s Social Networking in IT Careers
Abstract
This study aims to explore the implications of respectable feminity norms for women’s social networking in IT careers in India. Studies argue that social networking with fellow men and women employees plays an important role in the career progression of women in IT careers in western contexts (Ahuja, 2002). While this is argued to be true even in non-western societies (Adya, 2008), studies also highlight certain social mobility restriction norm such as the ‘respectable feminity’ norm being imposed on Indian women that restricts Indian women’s socialization with respect to gender, time and space. This study sets out to understand how practicing such norms might shape the social networking experiences of the women and the implications of such norms on the career progression of women in Indian IT sector. This study argues that respectable feminity norms are embedded in workplaces that equally shape the career progression of women in Indian IT sector.
Implications of Respectable Feminity Norms for Women’s Social Networking in IT Careers
This study aims to explore the implications of respectable feminity norms for women’s social networking in IT careers in India. Studies argue that social networking with fellow men and women employees plays an important role in the career progression of women in IT careers in western contexts (Ahuja, 2002). While this is argued to be true even in non-western societies (Adya, 2008), studies also highlight certain social mobility restriction norm such as the ‘respectable feminity’ norm being imposed on Indian women that restricts Indian women’s socialization with respect to gender, time and space. This study sets out to understand how practicing such norms might shape the social networking experiences of the women and the implications of such norms on the career progression of women in Indian IT sector. This study argues that respectable feminity norms are embedded in workplaces that equally shape the career progression of women in Indian IT sector.