Hi folks – apologies for any cross-postings but sharing this for Sam Parsley at Portsmouth in the UK. She has a super-interesting PhD studentship on offer – details and link to advert follow. Sam is on samantha.parsley@port.ac.uk for any queries. Cheers from Jo
Competitive pressures and toxic behaviours among women working in all-female environments
https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/c ... s/?p154874
Project description
The project will investigate relational dynamics within all-female organisations, collectives and businesses in the music industry, with a particular focus on competition and negative, so-called ‘toxic’ behaviours towards other women. This is an under-researched and controversial area of gender, work and organisation connecting with wider literature problematizing gendered notions of competition. It responds to calls within that work for more researchon personal and organisational impacts of competitive pressures in the workplace (Mavin and Yusupova 2020). Recent research shows that women in supposedly ‘women friendly’ environments can lack empathy with other women and withhold solidarity (Miliopoulou& Kapareliotis 2021), but the literature on all-women organisations and collectives is scant, suggesting a need for more research in this area – particularly in male-dominated and/or STEM industries where entrepreneurship is regarded to be an ‘emancipatory’ career option for women (Sharma 2022). The project will specifically explore structural intersectional dynamics that may drive women to behave in these ways.
A critical and predominantly qualitative methodology is proposed in order to capture interpretive and political processes likely to be in evidence. Methods will involve (1) critical discourse analysis incorporating digital and visual components, of all-female organisations’ web presence and industry press about them; (2) an anonymous industry-wide survey, given the potentially sensitive ‘taboo’ character of the topic and (3) a programme of semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of women working in all-female organisations in order to generate in-depth data about experiential issues emerging from stages 1 and 2 above. Access will be possible via the first supervisor’s networks developed during her Fellowship exploring careers and gender issues in electronic music.
The project will be conducted as a ‘Compilation Thesis’ during which the student will prepare and submit 4 manuscripts for publication, in order to maximise their academic career development.
General admissions criteria
You'll need a good first degree from an internationally recognised university (minimum upper second class or equivalent, depending on your chosen course) or a Master’s degree in an appropriate subject. In exceptional cases, we may consider equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications. English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.
Specific candidate requirements
Essential:
• Experience of using qualitative research techniques
• Background in gender and organisation/ management studies
• Critical, enquiring attitude
• Ability to self-organise and work on own initiative
• Ethically sensitive individual
• Excellent academic writing skills
Desirable:
• Direct experience of, or interest in the music industry
• Familiarity with survey methodology and/or quantitative analysis
• Experience of researching sensitive topics
• Wish to pursue an academic career