Strengthening the Role of Female Young Professionals in IT-Organizations by Using a PAR Approach in Gender Studies

Abstract

Women interested in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), especially information technology (IT), are still facing several problems considering equality and career chances. Companies realize the opportunities of diversity and yet for several reasons they are struggling to hire or integrate female young professionals. Although gender study research provides promising frameworks there are still issues of making those usable in practical environments. Thus, there does exist a gap between science and practice -- A gap which our project aims to close by promoting the transfer of knowledge between gender studies and IT practice. Therefore, we collaborate with IT-organizations over a timespan of three years using a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach. This approach offers opportunities to reveal new, relevant insights and create social change in a collaborative way. Thus, my PhD thesis deals on the one hand with the results considering specific gender-related topics we gained in the organizations as well as, on the other hand, with an evaluation of our methodology in this specific context.