'A Guiding Light in a Virtual Haven': A Preliminary Analysis of Conversations around Navigating and Repairing Self-worth in an Online Professional Community for Women

Subhasree Sengupta, Bryan Semaan

Research output: Chapter in Book/Entry/PoemConference contribution

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

The establishment of one's professional identity can be essential to one's sense of worth. For women, such challenges can be further magnified owing to the need to perform traditional roles along with sustaining a professional career. Through an analysis of a random sample of 10 discussion threads (80 conversation traces) from a subreddit called r/careerwomen, we explore the needs that draw women to use such forums and the ways in which such forums help develop endurance. Our preliminary analysis provides 2 main themes towards understanding how multiple socio-cultural pressures create tensions in defining one's sense of worth. In contrast, 5 other themes provide insights into strategies to redefine norms of worth. Building on these themes, we propose the analytical frame of morale repair, which aims to discuss how such socio-technical interventions can be designed and structured to further address the struggles for women in establishing a sense of worth.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationCSCW 2021 - Conference Companion Publication of the 2021 Computer Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery
Pages158-162
Number of pages5
ISBN (Electronic)9781450384797
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 23 2021
Event24th ACM Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing, CSCW 2021 - Virtual, Online, United States
Duration: Oct 23 2021Oct 27 2021

Publication series

NameProceedings of the ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work, CSCW

Conference

Conference24th ACM Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing, CSCW 2021
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityVirtual, Online
Period10/23/2110/27/21

Keywords

  • Cultural norms
  • Gendered Identity
  • Reddit
  • Self-worth
  • Thematic content analysis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Software
  • Computer Networks and Communications
  • Human-Computer Interaction

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