Virtual Community Building for Supporting Women in Developing and Sustaining Their Professional Identities

Abstract

The establishment of one’s professional identity can be essential to one’s sense of worth. For women, such challenges can be further magnified owing to the need to perform traditional roles along with sustaining a professional career. Thus, having virtual spaces to connect with others facing similar travails can help to build community and strategies for endurance. In keeping with this goal, through a three part mixed methods investigation that employs quantitative and qualitative analysis, my dissertation work seeks to understand how virtual communities are helping or can be designed to help support women as they pursue their professional aspirations.