The Magic to Change Cinderella´s Glass Slipper - A qualitative Study of breaking the norm preserving gender inequalities in the construction industry

Abstract: Title: The Magic to Change Cinderella´s Glass Slipper: A qualitative study on breaking the norm preserving gender in the construction industry Authors: Erika Gräns & Wiebke Müller Supervisor: Sverre Spoelstra Submission Date: 20th of May 2016 Keywords: Gender Inequalities, Norm, Horizontal Segregation, Glass Ceiling, Glass Slipper, Ideal Worker, Occupational Identity Purpose: The purpose of this study is to provide insights on how organizational norms maintain gender inequalities within masculine organizations. Research Question: How do employees of BM Construction group perceive gender inequalities? Methodology: Following an interpretive paradigm, we explored in-depth the perception of gender inequalities at BM Construction Group, Sweden. Using a qualitative research approach, we conducted 13 interviews, and interpreted the collected data in a reflexive way. Findings: Alongside other findings we discovered that without acknowledging the influence of norms distinguishing between the ideal worker and the others, it seems unnecessarily hard to change occupational identities. Contributions: We contribute to the discussion on gender inequalities in organizations by providing insight on how the change of occupational identities is hindered by the norm of the ideal worker. Further, we will contribute by illustrating an example of how to break these norms in order to enable occupational change with the aim of reducing gender inequalities.