Algerian Female Engineers' Construction Of Professional Identities At Engineering Workplace

Abstract

The present study explores the discursive construction of Algerian female engineers’ professional identities at engineering workplace in Algerian Sonatrach Company. In attempting to explore the experiences of Algerian female engineers in light of the present constraints in the domain of engineering, two main data collection instruments were selected. First, the questionnaire aims at exploring participants’ perceptions and experiences at engineering workplace. Second, the interview aims to explore the discursive construction of females’ engineers’ professional identities in light of the available engineering discourses of masculinity. The study reveals that engineering workplace is discursively gendered. Moreover, the data reveal a picture of the masculine culture that affects their coping strategies. Female engineers suggest that establishing gender equality through eliminating gender differences at engineering workplace will enable females to regain recognition as professional engineers.