The Salience of Gender, Race, and Ethnicity for High-skilled Indian Immigrant Women in the Workplace

Abstract

What are the everyday experiences of highly skilled, Indian immigrant women in predominantly white- and male-dominated workplaces? This article uses an intersectional framework to answer this question by drawing on interviews with 26 women who work primarily in the field of information technology in the Research Triangle Area of North Carolina. Findings suggest that while participants acknowledge the presence of gender barriers throughout their careers, race and ethnicity assume greater salience for them earlier in their careers. Gender gains in importance over time. Participants’ experiences are gendered in that they face pressure to prove themselves, are not taken seriously and are expected to conform to stereotypical behaviours associated with women. Gender and cultural differences also hinder networking efforts. This article highlights the shifting salience and fluidity of race, ethnicity, and gender for participants over time, and underscores that bias and intersectionality are not static facts in the lives of professional women of colour. Ultimately, it appears that the experiences of these women share many similarities with other high-skilled women, including white women, in these sectors, particularly as they advance in their careers.