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ponents of a situation (Reinharz, 1992). The use of semi-structured interviewing in
feminist research is significant. It enables the use of open questions and provides the
capacity to encourage participants to give lengthy and full responses in their own words.
'Feminist researchers find interviewing appealing for reasons over and above the assets
noted by social scientists who defend qualitative methods against positivist criticism'
(Reinharz, 1992, p. 19). Semi-structured interviews are seen as offering access to people's
ideas, thoughts, and memories and real life experiences in their own words rather than
the words of the researcher (Reinharz, 1992; Dallimore, 2000). To achieve this outcome
it is important that considerable rapport is developed between the researcher and the
participant, as this is a fundamental prerequisite in feminist research.
From this background, the research presented in this paper draws on a feminist epistem-
ology to demonstrate that it is an appropriate approach in IS gender research. In so doing
it is acknowledged that there is gender imbalance in information systems workplaces
and it is likely that there are factors at work that inhibit or reduce the likelihood that
women will participate in equal numbers with men. It may be that oppression exists
and this has contributed to the inequality. Further, it is recognised that, due to the ex-
ploratory nature of the research, no immediate change is likely to occur as a result of it.
It may, however, lead to further research and subsequent actions to effect change and
therefore meets yet another criterion in adding support for a feminist stance. When
these conditions apply they represent the subtle distinction between a feminist epistem-
ology and a subjectivist approach.
The aim of the research is to disclose common characteristics of women currently
working within the industry and to consider the factors that impact on women moving
to, or being placed in, IS/IT positions. To address this objective the following questions
are posed:
1.
What are the factors influencing the careers of women in IS/IT?
2.
What are the characteristics of women working in IS/IT roles in Tasmania?
Method
To demonstrate the application of a feminist epistemology within IS gender research,
the research presented in this paper uses a case study approach involving semi-structured
interviews conducted with women who are successfully working in the IS/IT industry
in Tasmania. The adoption of a case study strategy is supported by the view of Reinharz
(1992) that feminists use case studies primarily to analyse the significance of a situation.
While there is an absence of research that directly relates to gender imbalance within
the IS/IT industry in Tasmania, this research is founded on an assumption that any dis-
criminatory practices found in this state are likely to mirror the situation elsewhere.
Participant recruitment
To recruit participants for the case study the primary researcher attended a social event
hosted by the Women in Information Technology Tasmania (WIITT) group. WIITT is
a special interest group constituted under the auspices of the Australian Computer Society
(ACS). At this event she was able to address the group and provide an outline of the re-
search and invite the women in attendance to volunteer to participate. A brochure
providing an overview of the research and the participants' expected contribution was
made available at the event. Within a feminist research perspective this personal approach
was an important initial step in the development of rapport with potential participants.
At this gathering between six and nine volunteers were sought to participate in inter-
views. This number of interviews was established by reference to the limitations of the
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