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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Ana Lopes
This article analyses the design of an online mentoring platform - for women by women - in a high-technology, male-dominated UK industry: aviation and aerospace. Based on interviews with professionals and managers, we analyse the journey of the women involved and contribute to the understanding of the role of women (individually and collectively) in challenging gendered norms in a male-dominated industry through the theoretical lenses of ‘critical actors’ and ‘critical mass’. We combine these concepts, usually seen as mutually exclusive, to explain the success of the online platform. We show how a small number of self-selected critical actors represented, listened and responded to the needs of the women in their industry, thus achieving the substantive representation of women. We also argue that while critical actors were key to its inception, the mentoring platform now needs a critical mass of women to ensure its success.
Author(s): Durbin S, Lopes A, Warren S
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: New Technology, Work and Employment
Year: 2020
Volume: 35
Issue: 2
Pages: 215-231
Print publication date: 01/07/2020
Online publication date: 25/06/2020
Acceptance date: 06/04/2020
Date deposited: 13/05/2020
ISSN (print): 0268-1072
ISSN (electronic): 1468-005X
Publisher: Wiley
URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/ntwe.12166
DOI: 10.1111/ntwe.12166
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