Women’s Discursive Identity De/Reconstruction in Male-Dominated Engineering: A Case of Algerian Female Engineers

Abstract

The present study explores the discursive construction of Algerian female engineers’ professional identities at engineering workplace in Algerian Sonatrach Company. More precisely, the present study shedslight on (in) visibility issues of female’s contribution, strategies to cope within male-dominated engineering, the challenges of the marginal borders, and underrepresentation imposed by Algerian professional and cultural assumptions on female engineers.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 was administered to 50 male and 50 female engineers. It aims at exploring participants’ perceptions and experiences at engineering workplace. Second, the interview was conducted with 15 female engineers. It 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.The results indicate that Algerian female engineers’ discourses remain representative of a significant manner of resistance to available masculinities. Moreover, the data reveal a picture of extensive masculine culture that affects their coping strategies, and highlights women’s consciousness-raising in the professional domain while struggling to gain their professional status. Female engineers suggest that establishing gender equality through eliminating gender differences at engineering workplace will enable females to regain recognition as professional engineers. .