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Girls in Tech: Progress and Barriers in a Gendered Culture

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Digital Entrepreneurship, Gender and Intersectionality

Part of the book series: Dynamics of Virtual Work ((DVW))

Abstract

This chapter presents empirical research on female Internet and mobile startup entrepreneurs and women tech workers in Taiwan, and the analysis takes into account the gender role attitudes, work-life balance and fertility rate. The chapter argues that family responsibility is not spoken about and assumed unmanageable in the sector due to entrenched gender inequalities. When women enter this traditionally male-dominated sector, their career progression, participation in entrepreneurship and roles within the nascent companies are strongly influenced by the gender discourse and the intersections between gender, age and class. Among the female entrepreneur interviewees, half started their companies with their husbands or male partners. The author considers the effects of these husband and wife teams on the nuclear family. Furthermore, when women participate as business owners or workers, they often take up gendered roles or focus on products that are aimed at a gender-specific market.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. King’s College London, London, UK

    Wing-Fai Leung

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  1. Wing-Fai Leung
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Correspondence to Wing-Fai Leung .

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Leung, WF. (2019). Girls in Tech: Progress and Barriers in a Gendered Culture. In: Digital Entrepreneurship, Gender and Intersectionality. Dynamics of Virtual Work. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97523-8_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97523-8_3

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-97522-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-97523-8

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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