Pushing and Pulling Women into Technology-Plus Jobs

Abstract

This article discusses the causes and implications of an empirically observed tendency to channel a disproportionate number of female computer professionals working in IT companies into what we term technology-plus positions. Technology-plus positions are positions requiring technological knowledge and skills but also containing a significant “non-technological” component. The most common such positions are project and group management, but also some sales/business development tasks, technical and specifications writing, and positions entailing substantial client contact can also be included in this category. Channeling a disproportionate number of female computer professionals into technology-plus positions is seen as evidence of gendered “segregation”1 at the occupational sub-specialization level in the high end of the IT industry. This process is primarily based on horizontally differentiated positions and tracks rather than vertically hierarchical positions, though as argued below, a particular status hierarchy plays a central role in this process. Space constraints mandate sacrificing depth for breadth in making the argument here (see also Davies & Mathieu, 2005).