Programme full

Thursday 16 April 2015 11:00 - 12:30
PAPER SESSION 4
interpretations of leadership as illuminating strength. In summary, researchers have shied away from focus groups
fearing that seniority and leadership will inhibit discussions between participants.
In this paper we critically examine and reflect upon the use of focus groups with women in mid to late career at senior
management level. We explore contrasts in group memberships and contexts through two focus groups run in Finland
and two in Scotland. Two groups drew together women in non-traditional areas of female employment, namely
engineering and IT, and two brought together women in service and retail, and the public and charitable sectors.
Across the groups sensitive issues on gender, organisations, role and work place relationships were explored. We
contend this richness in data emerges from the main research question, namely gender and mid career. Women were
drawn to discussions on common experiences, also exploring how these differ and change over time. Through sharing
career experiences women illuminated their intersecting contexts. In conclusion, focus groups enhanced an
exploration of their embodied experiences of career and gender.
169 BSA Annual Conference 2015
Glasgow Caledonian University