Abstract (eng)
This paper deals with the shortage of skilled workers in the IT sector and the fact that there are still very few women working in the industry. Gender stereotypes and gender-related stereotypes in professional life are still strongly prevalent, which leads to segregation in the labour market. In order to explore gender differences in a male-dominated industry, focusing on the personal experiences or perceptions of women and thus the female perspective, the following research question was arrived at: "How do women in the IT sector assess their professional environment/day-to-day work with regard to a male-dominated industry?" In order to explore gender differences in a male-dominated industry, it is crucial to focus on the personal experiences and perceptions of women, thus the female perspective, the following research question arose: "How do women in the IT sector assess their professional environment/day-to-day work with regard to a male-dominated industry?" The focus/main attention was placed on the following topics: Career, everyday life and compatibility with family. In this regard, 13 women from Vienna who have been working in the IT sector for at least three years and have also a technical job were interviewed. After transcribing the interviews, the results were then analysed by means of qualitative content analysis according to Mayring and subsequently presented and discussed with the help of theoretical foundations. The theoretical basis is based on Mead's symbolic interactionism, Butler's deconstructivist gender research and Sengenberger's theory of a segmented labour market. Among other things, the following conclusion was reached: The female gender is particularly visible in the IT sector due to its strong underrepresentation. Most women have already been confronted with stereotypical assumptions such as "a woman in technology has no place in principle". Many female interviewees also feel that they have to prove their performance more than their male colleagues. Salary differences between the sexes and the influence of motherhood on everyday working life were also discussed. Particularly striking were statements by the interviewees indicating that a woman in the IT sector is expected to be self-confident and to have social skills. Among other things, the following conclusion has been reached: In the IT sector, the female gender is mainly present due to its strong underrepresentation. This suggests that women in the IT sector are still surrounded by a male, stereotypical environment and are not provided with the same conditions as their male colleagues.