A quarter century of gender and information systems research: the role of theory in investigating the gender imbalance

Abstract

This study analyses the role of theory in gender and information systems (IS) research by providing a descriptive review of 25 years' IS journal publications on the topic of gender and IS. Trauth (2013) performed a critical literature analysis on research papers that appeared in information systems journals between 1992 and 2013. This paper extends the analysis by Trauth (2013) adding a literature analysis for research papers from 2012 to 2020. Decades of research on the underrepresentation of women in information systems (IS) has revealed a chequered landscape of studies ranging from completely atheoretical to theoretically well-informed work. Contained in this considerable body of knowledge lie a collection of explicitly theorised gender and IS studies. These are the only types of study that allow researchers to build upon each other's work, and allow the field to progress from purely descriptive studies to studies that are more analytical in nature, with the goal of suggesting interventions aimed at broadening participation in the IT workforce. This study examines only explicitly theorised research and finds that IS research has indeed progressed from gender essentialist studies toward gender intersectional studies. The intersectional approach encourages explanatory studies which investigate relevant issues in today's diverse global IT workforce and allows the identification of suitable interventions.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the AIS: Challenges and opportunities of remote conferences

“…Intersectional theories, where biological sex interacts with characteristics such as gender identity, race, or ethnicity (cf. Mennega & De Villiers, 2021) offer opportunities to overcome these issues.…”

“…Finally, and additionally to Masiero and Aaltonen's (2020) taxonomy, a historical perspective was provided by Mennega and De Villiers (2021) who, building on Trauth (2013), expanded on the role of theory in gender and IS research. Studying IS journal publications across 25 years, their work notes how the field has progressed from gender essentialism, which posits gender as binary and immutable, to an intersectional view that questions these tenets.…”