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<p>This study adopts a qualitative lens and explores the mechanisms through which women negotiate internalized sociocultural norms to shape their career aspirations in engineering within the Indian context. Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of <i>habitus</i> and <i>symbolic violence</i>, this work investigates the depth of assimilation of gendered beliefs and social conditioning that colour women’s perceptions of their academic potential, leadership capabilities and life trajectories. Content analysis of the narratives from 12 female doctoral students from three premier Indian universities revealed three interconnected themes: “<i>Internalized devaluation of ambition</i>”, “<i>Self-policing and avoidance of high-visibility roles</i>”, and “<i>Perceived incompatibility with gendered life paths</i>”. Findings reveal that these internal mechanisms operate beneath formal institutional structures and perpetuate gender disparity in chemical engineering academia. The study proposes various interventions for mitigating and disrupting this subtle socio-cultural conditioning and advances the theoretical understanding of the unconscious, internalized barriers that impede women’s career progression.</p>

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Beyond the System: The Unconscious Barriers to Women’s Career Aspirations in Indian Chemical Engineering

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月20日

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  • Gayatri Iyer,
  • Ramajanaki Iyer,
  • Aniruddha B. Pandit

摘要

This study adopts a qualitative lens and explores the mechanisms through which women negotiate internalized sociocultural norms to shape their career aspirations in engineering within the Indian context. Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of habitus and symbolic violence, this work investigates the depth of assimilation of gendered beliefs and social conditioning that colour women’s perceptions of their academic potential, leadership capabilities and life trajectories. Content analysis of the narratives from 12 female doctoral students from three premier Indian universities revealed three interconnected themes: “Internalized devaluation of ambition”, “Self-policing and avoidance of high-visibility roles”, and “Perceived incompatibility with gendered life paths”. Findings reveal that these internal mechanisms operate beneath formal institutional structures and perpetuate gender disparity in chemical engineering academia. The study proposes various interventions for mitigating and disrupting this subtle socio-cultural conditioning and advances the theoretical understanding of the unconscious, internalized barriers that impede women’s career progression.