Conflicting discourses : occupational segregation in computer programming

This thesis explores issues round gender and job segregation which emerged during a qualitative study of the different work experiences and attitudes of over fifty female and male computer programmers, in a number of computer software companies and in two internationally renowned manufacturing organizations. The aim of this thesis is to demonstrate the emergence of a sexual division of labour in this occupation and thus illustrate the process of segregation. It explores a qualitative approach to the study of vertical segregation in the computing industry amongst computer programmers. It uses Foucault's concept of discourse to suggest that a number of discourses are productive of gender segregation at work.