For the Girls: An Analysis of the Pervasive Nature of Gender Discrimination in the Workplace and the Coping Mechanisms Women Use to Combat It

Abstract

This research focuses on the sociological phenomenon of gender inequality in the workplace and its notable effect on women. I sought to evaluate whether there is tangible evidence to establish whether women use niche coping mechanisms to overcome gender discrimination and if these very mechanisms inadvertently contribute to the perpetuation of stereotypes and gender discrimination against women. My methodology involved providing evidence through scholarly literature on ways women have been systemically discriminated against in work environments. An analysis of perceived gender discrimination in the workplace was conducted through in-depth interviews with women professionals, supplemented by a survey undertaken by additional women professionals. The personal experiences, perceptions, and anecdotal evidence of these women are used as a framework and lens in examining how women professionals cope with inherent gender discrimination and biases and provide an understanding of the necessity of personal and institutional mechanisms employed to confront and overcome these disparities.