CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Despite the dominance of men in

certain fields, women display
unwavering strength, capacity, and
versatility, fueled by their love and
passion for what they do.

The passion and love that
women have for their job
empower them to
overcome the obstacles
that comes along with it.
Balancing time
becomes a challenge
for women when it
comes to both work
and family
responsibilities.
Gender bias is evidently
seen in the workplace
especially with the
differences in physical
capabilities between men
and women.

The foundation of
women's perseverance
in their workplace lies Women encounter
in their resilience and difficulties in establishing
acceptance. relationships within male-
dominated social
activities.

The challenges that are

faced by women brought
a diverse and
advantageous qualities
in personal and
professional pursuits,
enabling allowing them
to navigate obstacles,
take risks, and push
beyond limitations.
 Research Findings

The purpose of the qualitative, phenomenological study presented was to explore the

lived experiences of Women in Men-dominated regarding their challenges and how they cope

to drive teamwork in their workplace. The data were gathered using a semi-structured

interview with each participant of the study. The data gathered from the four (4) women in

the me-dominated field were then transcribed and analyzed using Colaizzi's method of data

analysis.

After analyzing the data, the researchers were able to come up with the following findings:

1. Balancing time becomes a challenge for women when it comes to both work and

family responsibilities.

2. Gender bias is evidently seen in the workplace especially with the differences in

physical capabilities between men and women.

3. Women encounter difficulties in establishing relationships within male-dominated

social activities.

4. The passion and love that women have for their job empower them to overcome the

obstacles that comes along with it.

5. The foundation of women's perseverance in their workplace lies in their resilience and

acceptance.

6. The challenges that are faced by women brought a diverse and advantageous qualities

in personal and professional pursuits, enabling allowing them to navigate obstacles, take

risks, and push beyond limitations.

 Discussion of Data

In this section of the study, prominent themes are presented in matrices where

clustered responses from the participants are interpreted.

Matrix 1: TIME MANAGEMENT

Theme Results of the Interview Generalization

Balancing time It is clear from the

becomes a challenge “uhm, medyo struggle, especially sa time respondents' answers that
for women when it and also as a mother because ano, so my, time management is one
comes to both work may 3 year old son ko so,there are times of their greatest struggles
and family nga medyo busy sa work and medyo less in handling their work
responsibilities. na ang time mo sa imo family" and family.

“Amo lang na siguro ng na mention kona

kagina, uhmm being a mother and as a
police officer, kay sa tuod lang ng kung
mother kana lain ya ang feeling kung
single kapa kag mother kana as during
being apolice officer, kay kung police ka
kay kung mother kana bala ga tapos ga
ano kapa.”

“The skills needed that you must possess

to be an effective student, uhhh are is
that uhh, you must have an effective time
management. By managing your time
well, you can avoid procrastination, stay
organized and maintain a healthy work
 life balance.”

“Uhmm siling ko gani kagina time

management lang, ahh importante gid na
sa amon. Kag siling ko liwat dapat
palangga mo imo nga ubra kay kung
baga for example ara kasa family mo
tapos hambal mo gina pa report ka, ti
kung ikaw kung ikaw nga normal nga
tawo, kita bilang nga normal nga tawo ti
syempre daw ma disappoint ka diba?
(“ahay a family time na namon pero need
pa namon mag report”) pero ti part of the
job part of our work, so amo lang gid
na.”

The matrix shown above illustrates information about how the importance of

managing the time effectively affects the life of women in men-dominated field who try to

juggle their work and their personal life.

The result of the study shows how time is significant at the workplace as the working

condition requires a full attention, where women struggle to balance their work and personal

life, it was prominent that the participant gave the struggles of being a woman in the

industry. The participant stated their response according to their own experience and

understanding of their own struggles. In general, they said that managing their time between

work and personal life is a struggle because their workplace demands require their full focus.

The respondents then elaborated how time management became a struggle in her life.

A study conducted by Indeed (2023) states that time-management problems are the

challenges people encounter when trying to maximize their effectiveness in their career and

personal life. Many people commonly feel as if the time available for certain personal and

professional tasks is somewhat limited or that the demands on that time exceed what is

available.
 Another study conducted by Kashyap (2023) has shown relevance in the study

conducted by the researchers. It implies that people may boost their performance and

accomplish their intended goals with less effort and more efficient methods by improving

their time management at work. However, poor time management abilities at work can lead

to strained working relationships and discord between work and personal life.

Matrix 2: DIFFERENCE OF PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES BETWEEN GENDERS

Theme Results of the Interview Generalization

Gender bias is “pero kung as an electrical engineer, Men and women possess
evidently seen in challenges kasi may mga times na distinct physical capabilities,
the workplace hindi mo maobra ang mga gusto mo and the participants' responses
especially with the obrahon, like wla ka uhh lakas na, highlight this disparity by
differences in strength like ng lalaki katulad nang last acknowledging certain
physical job ko sa construction. So, indi ko activities that men can perform
capabilities kataklas, taklas sobra parehos ng mga while women cannot.
between men and lalaki. Daw like, kinanglan ko pa mag
women. kuha manpower, engineer ko siempre
kinanglan ko tan awon ang obra. So,
amo na, siguro more on strength sa
physical. Tapos amo lang mn na.”

“Pero siempre indi ta malikawan na

may mga bagay na maobra ang boy
nga indi maobra sng girl, kg may mga
bagay man na maobra sang girl nga
indi maobra sang boy, nature nana sang
tawo eh.”
“So, sa police service during sang
recruit days pag apply ko, uhm…20%
sang quota is for women so, sokung
meaning 80% sang amon nga daw,
sang batch sang recruit is for men na
siya and 20% is for women so amo na
siya. So ang buot silingon silingon sina
mostly ang women is designed for
office personel, sa diri sa WCPD kay
syempre ang WCPD ya nga office na
design gid ya for women, so amo na
siya.”
Well... Definitely gender bias and
 stereotype
Women may experience discrimination
or harassment in the workplace which
can create an unwelcoming or hostile
environment.
“As a woman software engineer in a
male-dominated industry, self-
assessment involves evaluating my
technical expertise, problem-solving
abilities, and industry knowledge. It
also entails reflecting on my
professional growth, accomplishments,
and continuous learning efforts.
Additionally, I consider my resilience
in navigating challenges, overcoming
biases, and adapting to the
environment. I assess my involvement
in mentorship or leadership roles, the
strength of my professional network,
and the impact I've made. Confidence
in my abilities and a positive self-
perception are essential aspects of self-
assessment. Moreover, I recognize the
importance of challenging gender
biases, breaking barriers, and serving
as a role model to inspire and empower
other women in the field.”

The information presented in the matrix above highlights the contrasting physical

capabilities between men and women. It acknowledges that there are tasks or activities that

men are able to perform which women cannot, and vice versa. Furthermore, the matrix

suggests that gender biases in the workplace persist to this day, as women continue to

encounter preconceived misconceptions and unfair treatment. It underscores the fact that

women can face certain harsh actions or negative perceptions due to their gender.

Based on the results of the data gathered by the researchers, it indicates that these

disparities in physical abilities have a noticeable impact in the workplace, as certain jobs have

specific requirements that only one gender can fulfill. Consequently, this distinction limits the
ability of individuals from one gender to fully showcase their capabilities. Broadly speaking,

the respondents stated that there exists a disparity in physical capabilities between genders,

with certain tasks being feasible for one gender but not for the other.

According to Tharwani (2022), In society, it is generally accepted that men are better

suited for a variety of tasks. Fun fact: People tend to believe that men are better at the jobs

that pay the most. Incomes decline as a result of this discrimination. Women put in greater

hours at work yet are paid less.

Another study conducted in St. Catherine University (2022) has shown relevance in

the result of the study conducted by the researchers. It emphasizes the biases towards women

in the workplace stating that another result of this “woman’s work” stereotype is that women

who pursue careers as skilled workers frequently have to meet higher educational standards

than their male counterparts. In a survey of over 30,000 workers published in Yale Insights,

women had a 14% lower annual chance of promotion than men.

According to Leary (2020), Male and female biological makeup is different. True.

They also have fundamentally different physical and mental traits as a result of their varied

biologist. True? Not at all. Women are more sensitive, less aggressive, and physically weaker

than men. They also perform math more poorly. Despite the widespread belief, all of these

facts have been significantly exaggerated despite being scientifically validated.

Matrix 3: BUILDING RELATIONSHIP

Theme Results of the Interview Generalization

Women encounter “Women may face various when It is clear in the response of the
difficulties in it comes to building professional participant that building a
establishing relationships networks. relationship and connecting in
within male-dominated a male-dominated field is hard.
social activities. “Male dominated social activities
or exclusive gatherings can make
it harder for women to connect
and build relationships.”
 “By managing your time well,
you can avoid procrastination,
stay organized and maintain a
healthy work life balance.”

The depicted matrix above highlights the challenges faced by women in male-dominated

fields, particularly emphasizing the significance of building relationships to connect with

others. Within a workplace where men hold the majority, women encounter difficulties in

establishing connections and forging relationships.

The research data gathered by the researchers notably emphasizes the struggles

experienced by female participants in the industry, specifically regarding their ability to

connect with others in social settings within male-dominated fields. The participants'

responses reflect their personal experiences and understanding of the obstacles they face. In

general, they expressed that, social gatherings centered around work, which are

predominantly attended by men, present a formidable environment for women to connect and

cultivate relationships within the industry.

According to Roebuck (2022), Building relationships at work can help you feel liberated,

motivated, and at ease. Your staff will be more confident and driven if they feel at ease

around you and with one another. It takes more than just being best friends with your

coworkers or colleagues to develop relationships at work. In order to ensure that you respect

and value one another, it is important to establish social and personal connections.

Matrix 4: LOVE AND PASSION FOR THEIR JOB

Theme Results of the Interview Generalization

The passion and “Ari naman ya as a PCR PNCO, the feeling In Men-dominated fields love
love that women nga ara balang connected ka sa community and passion for their job
have for their kay more pa PCR mas more ka nga ga deal prevails among women,
job empower sa community kag sa tawo. So, dapat whatever might be their job or
them to kabalo ka makibagay and kabalo ka bala even if it meant entering the
overcome the uhm... ang mga ginahambal na bala nila men-dominated field.
obstacles that nga kabalo ka mag public speaking,
comes along magtubang sa tawo, so amo na siya. Sa
with it. una, medyo may fear, kumbaga hambal
kuno nila stage fright. Pero as time passes
by nga nasanay kana, daw wala naman
lang, daw masanay kana mag tubang sa
mga tawo.”

“Uhm effective, kung sakon lang, siguro

patriotism. Love mo ang country, love mo
ang people, and also you love your job.”

“ So dapat if uhmm mag decide man gid

kamo mag join sa amon nga organization
uhmm my advice is... that you should love
your job ok. Not because amo nisya ang
aton amo ni ga hatag saton kwarta,
finances,maka bayad sa aton mga bills or
ano. Pero aside from that, the most
important is dapat palangga mo imo ubra,
regardless man kung indi sa PNP or sa
other nga profession ha, dapat palanggaon
naton aton ubra kay kung indi matak-an ta
sa aton ubra.”

“Enjoyable, siempre hard, uhh nag start gid

man tanan sa hard, pero, pero nag e-enjoy
naman. Usually with your workmates,
parang ano lang eh, ma eenjoy mo nalang
ang work as long as you love your job.
That’s it.”

“Moreover, I had a strong desire to explore

new horizons and develop versatility in my
career, even if it meant entering a male-
dominated industry”

“This job aligns directly with my

aspirations, offering the necessary
knowledge, experience and skill
development to advance in my career.”
 “By passion and interest. I’ve always had a
keen interest in the Mechanical
Engineering field. The subject matter and
work involved truly excite me. I am
genuinely passionate about renewable
energy and sustainable”

“The experience was not only

professionally rewarding but also a
testament to the hard work and dedication
our team put into the project. It was a
defining moment that highlighted the
impact of our efforts and the value we
provided to our clients.”

The matrix above presents information asserting that love and passion to women is a

way of coping to stride in their workplaces as biases is reigning till now.

Based on the findings shown in the matrix above, it was prominent in the responses of

participants how love and passion motivates them to work even more stating that love your

job and be passionate about it whatever the reason is and even if it meant for them to enter

the men-dominated field and come across difficulties in differences for the reason that their

love is the one that prevails. For these individuals, their love for their work acts as a driving

force. The participant stated their response according to their own experience while working

in a certain workplace such as men-dominated. In general, they said that love your job even if

it’s hard, because the more you love your job the less you get irritated and the more you have

fun.

According to McGinley (2022), When you enjoy your work, you don't see it as a burden

on your time; rather, you see it as something you choose to do. You actually choose to do it,

and it makes you feel quite satisfied.

 Another study conducted in the University of California (2023) indicates that passion not
only drives people to enjoy their work, but helps in overcoming obstacles in the workplace as
well. Anytime people hit a bump in the road or begin to doubt their abilities, remember the
positive effects of their work.
Matrix 6: RESILIENCE
Theme
The foundation of women's
perseverance in their
workplace lies in their
resilience and acceptance.
Results of the Interview Generalization
“May mga times na feeling Although women may face
mo discriminated ka pero difficulties as their
ano, uhh, be strong lang workplace display negative
gid.” work environment, their
resilience continue to prevail
“By taking a step back and
enabling them to stride.
reflecting, I prevent my
emotions from controlling
me in situations where I
have control.”
“Additionally, I consider my
resilience in navigating
challenges, overcoming
biases, and adapting to the
environment.”
“: Never allow fear to hinder
you from pursuing your
dreams. Break free from the
confines that society may
impose based on your
gender, and instead embrace
the boundless opportunities
available to you.”
“Believe in your abilities
and talents, and never let
anyone undermine your
worth or potential. Be
relentless in your pursuit of
knowledge, unafraid to
challenge societal norms and
 limitations.”
“As Eleanor Roosevelt once
said, "No one can make you
feel inferior without your
consent."

The information presented in the matrix above is to give a thorough examination of

woman’s dedication in their work at a men-dominated field.

Based on the result of the data gathered, although women experience obstacles in the

workplace such as discrimination they stay strong and continue to persevere, enabling them

to survive in a volatile workplace environment. They feel discriminated by the bias

perception of their workplace nonetheless they keep on moving forward even in the face of

adversity as their dedication to their job reign in them allowing them to be resilient and stride

in their workplace.

In a study conducted by Spell-Hansson (2023), the data of the study states that to

survive and succeed in the complex, rapidly changing local and global environments, rapidly

changing job configurations and downsizing, and external shocks like the pandemic that

uprooted millions of workers and made millions more work from home, resilience has

become an increasingly crucial skill for employees. Resilience is a crucial skill for workers to

withstand unfavorable workplace interactions, particularly those brought on by racial, gender,

and other forms of discrimination. Although the majority of experts concur that resilience is

the capacity to learn and advance in the face of adversity, the fundamental mechanism by

which resilience is formed is still unclear.

MATRIX 6: WHEN A CHALLENGE BECAME AN ADVANTAGE

Theme Results of the Interview Generalization

The challenges that are “.…. I think this is the right
faced by women brought a job for me, kay teh, uhh
diverse and advantageous medyo layo sya sa course ko
qualities in personal and gid ya subong pero para
professional pursuits, sakon right job sya kay it is
enabling allowing them to where i am comfortable gd
navigate obstacles, take and daw diri na ko naglearn
risks, and push beyond how to grow with myself”
limitations.
“may mga bagay na maobra
ang boy nga indi maobra sng
girl, kg may mga bagay man
na maobra sang girl nga indi
maobra sang boy, nature
nana sang tawo eh”
“Overcoming challenges
in a male dominated field
has provided women in
Mec-Mechanical
Engineering with the
sense of personal
fulfillment in a drive to
break barriers.”
“Whenever I encounter
challenges, I have
developed a coping
mechanism that involves
taking some time for myself.
I find it essential to engage
in self-reflection, allowing
me to gather my thoughts
and focus on finding ways to
improve and make informed
decisions. By taking a step
back and reflecting, I
prevent my emotions from
controlling me in situations
where I have control.”
“Uhmmm advantage
hahaha (laughing) oo so kay
sa ano lang yaha for
example lang sa bit patrol
namon. Kita nyo na ang
mga police officer nga ara
sa dalan? pero may mga
 nakita man ko nga female,
pero mostly ang mga ga bit
partol or gapainit or ara
dala is uhmm male, so amo
na so daw medyo
disadvantage sa amon nga
as female kay ara lang kami
sa office gapa aircon. Indi
man ga gwa man kami a,
pero ari lang kami sa office,
male mostly gina butang
sasa gwa.”

References:
12 Time-Management Problems (and How To Fix Them) | Indeed.com
Importance of Time Management In Workplace In 2023: ProofHub
Liking Your Job Helps You Succeed | USC OnlineLiking Your Job Helps You
Succeed | USC Online
What does it mean to love your job? | 14th February 2022 | News | McGinley
Support Services
Gender Bias in the Workplace: Bridging the Gap (stkate.edu)
Merits | Free Full-Text | Key Factors That Contribute to the Development of
Resilience in Successful Women Leaders Who Experience Disrespect and the
Importance of Respect in the Post-Pandemic Workplace (mdpi.com)