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Career networks for women - a postfeminist sisterhood?
Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1713-1336
2019 (English)Conference paper, Oral presentation with published abstract (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

This is a presentation of my ongoing PhD-research on career networks for women. During the last decade networks for women focusing on career success have become a frequent phenomenon in Sweden. Networks are being founded both by women themselves and by companies and organisations in the shape of in-house networks as a gender equality strategy. While it is true that the number of women in management and leadership position has increased and more women become self-employed business owners or entrepreneurs, the problem with male dominance in positions of power in the labour market still persists. Networks for women can thus be framed as one part of the antidote. At the same time, previous research has shown that women who wish to make career advancements need to engage in heterosocial networks with men (Göransson 2002), not in homosocial networks with women. While women’s networks offer support, male networks are expected to be more instrumental and have a higher rate of overt job opportunities (Ibarra 1997). One can thus wonder what it is that attract with an all-female network? In my PhD-research I investigate career networks founded and managed by women, but instead of evaluating the outcome of these networks in instrumental terms (i.e. career advancement and work opportunities) I am interested in analysing them from a feminist perspective. What are the ideas on homosociality and feminism that these networks draw upon; and how do they inform the organising of the network and the specific relationship between women that is propagated? While many of the networks in my study more or less overtly draw on politics of gender equality they are also founded, organised and realized as businesses. This calls for an analysis that also engages with the relationship between feminism and capitalism. A relationship that may be more pressing than ever with the increasing neoliberalisation of the Swedish society Some scholars refer to this state as postfeminism, others as the rise of neoliberal or moderate feminism (Rottenberg 2018; Lewis 2018). In my analysis I show how many of the networks bares resemblance to this form of feminism in their celebration of individual agency, empowerment and choice, but they also pose a challenge. While postfeminism or neoliberal feminism is argued to eradicate any potential for collective feminist action, the networks in my study seem to suggest differently. Here, working for individual success is done collectively. The question is – does it instigate collective feminist action? And is it feminist to make money out of it?

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2019.
National Category
Gender Studies
Research subject
Gender Studies
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-84131OAI: oai:DiVA.org:oru-84131DiVA, id: diva2:1450117
Conference
g19: Rethinking Knowledge Regimes. Solidarities and Contestations, Gothenburg, Sweden, October 7-9, 2019
Available from: 2020-07-01 Created: 2020-07-01 Last updated: 2020-07-31Bibliographically approved

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Börjesson, Ida Maria

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  • apa
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