Relational Claims-Making, a Gendered and a Racialized Inequality: A Study of US Information Technology Workers

• In Event: 50220 - Section on Organizations, Occupations, and Work Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 6: Gender Inequality at Work

Abstract

This study examines how gender, citizenship status, race, and ethnicity shape patterns of workplace absence among individuals employed in the U.S. information technology (IT) sector. Using data from the American Community Survey (2010–2021), the analysis focuses on workers across 28 IT occupations, assessing whether they reported being absent from work and, if so, whether they disclosed a reason. The findings reveal patterns of relational claims-making: individuals identifying as Asian, Hispanic, and non-citizens were more likely to report their absences and provide a reason, while women were disproportionately less likely to disclose why they took time off than men. These findings underscore four key insights: (1) relational claims-making is gendered; (2) relational claims-making is racialized; (3) the intersection of gender, race, ethnicity, and citizenship status offers a critical lens for understanding how relational claims-making functions as a mechanism of inequality; and (4) organizations play an active role in sustaining relational claims-making as a source of inequality. This study examines an employee reporting their absences and providing a reason for absences and its role in shaping workplace inequities and organizational power dynamics. It extends conversations in organizational sociology by moving beyond workplace inequality, such as wages and promotions, and considering absence reporting as a form of claims-making. The findings demonstrate how social categories like gender, race, ethnicity, and citizenship status influence whether and how workers justify their time away from work, exposing the biases embedded within organizations.

Author

• Neha Jangeti, University of North Texas