Deinstitutionalized Careers: Intersectionality of Gender Pay Gap among Women Knowledge Workers

Öz

The purpose of this study is to explore women knowledge workers’ experiences of the intersectionality of the gender pay gap and to scrutinize the reasons behind gender pay gap. The study problematizes the gender pay gap phenomenon by using intersectionality theory. The study describes how the gender pay gap varies based on ethnical differences besides being women and reveals how this situation deinstitutionalizes women’s careers. The study utilized a descriptive qualitative research design employing thematic analysis conducted in Germany and Türkiye with a purposively selected sample of participants. The study’s empirical material was generated through semi-structured interviews with women knowledge workers who differ in ethnicity and generally work in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The study’s findings indicated that ethnicity should be considered among other intersectional factors to analyze the gender pay gap comprehensively. The reasons behind the gender pay gap are found to be the lack of transparency in the workplace, gender-based occupational segregation, culture, the glass ceiling, the existence of male-dominated informal communication channels, and the fact that women workers are more easily preferred in organizational downsizing initiatives.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• gender pay gap
• intersectionality theory
• women knowledge workers
• Germany
• Türkiye

Kariyer Çözülmesi: Kadın Bilgi Çalışanlarında Cinsiyete Dayalı Ücret Eşitsizliğinin Kesişimselliği

Öz

Bu çalışmanın amacı kadın bilgi çalışanlarının cinsiyete dayalı ücret eşitsizliğinin kesişimselliğine ilişkin deneyimlerin keşfedilmesi ve cinsiyete dayalı ücret eşitsizliğinin sebeplerinin sorgulanmasıdır. Çalışma, cinsiyete dayalı ücret eşitsizliği olgusunu kesişimsellik teorisi bağlamında sorunsallaştırmaktadır. Çalışmada ücret eşitsizliğinin kadın olmanın yanında etnik köken farklılıkları açısından nasıl değiştiği ve kadınların kariyerlerinde nasıl bir çözülmeye neden olduğu betimlenmeye çalışılmıştır. Betimsel nitel tasarımın kullanıldığı çalışma tematik analize dayalı olarak Almanya ve Türkiye’de amaçlı olarak seçilen katılımcılarla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışmanın görgül materyalini etnik köken açısından farklılık gösteren, genelde bilim, teknoloji, mühendislik ve matematik alanlarında çalışan bilgi çalışanı kadınlarla yapılan yarı-yapılandırılmış görüşmeler oluşturmaktadır. Çalışma sonuçları cinsiyete dayalı ücret eşitsizliğinin kapsamlı analizinde etnik kökenin diğer kesişimsel faktörlerle birlikte ele alınması gerektiğine işaret etmektedir. Cinsiyete dayalı ücret eşitsizliğinin nedenleri arasında ise işyerinde şeffaflığın olmayışı, cinsiyete dayalı mesleki ayrımcılık, kültür, cam tavan, erkek egemen biçimsel olmayan iletişim kanallarının varlığı ve kadın çalışanların örgütsel küçülme girişimlerinde daha kolay tercih edilebilmeleri sıralanmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• cinsiyete dayalı ücret eşitsizliği
• kesişimsellik teorisi
• kadın bilgi çalışanları
• Almanya
• Türkiye

Kaynakça

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