AUTOETNOGRAFIA - “EU SEMPRE FUI CONTROLADORA”: CONSTRUÇÃO DA IDENTIDADE DE UMA MULHER NO CONTROLE GERENCIAL DE UMA MULTINACIONAL

Abstract

Over time, policies, practices and actions have been promoted to foster gender equality in society and in working relationships in organizations. This paper set out to analyze these issues from the perspective of the phenomenon known as the "glass ceiling". Focusing on the challenges faced by women as they seek to advance in their careers, the concept of the "glass ceiling" addresses issues related to maternity, promotion and salary disparity, all of which act as limiting factors in this process. These difficulties are also evident in the field of accounting, when women aspire to more important positions. In my specific case, these barriers manifested themselves when I tried to rise to the position of managerial control. Along the way, I faced challenges of a social, cultural and organizational nature. The purpose of this research is to relate my experiences through autoethnography, a methodology that allows reflection on one's own experience. I'm looking for answers to the following research question: "What experiences shape the construction of a woman's identity in the management of a multinational?" As a white, cisgender woman, mother, wife and housewife, I try to understand how these factors have influenced my career and, by extension, the careers of other women. The work uses texts that highlight my journey and role in different periods of society, describing episodes involving motherhood, family, promotion, the pay gap and the transformations needed to change society's perception of women. The justifications for this research include: (1) reverberating the experiences of other women; (2) stimulating social debate on female representation in managerial positions in companies; and (3) driving social change in favor of gender equality. The results show progress, but they also show that we still face barriers and discrimination, especially in relation to motherhood, which many women postpone or choose not to have children due to the impact on maternity leave, promotion and salary. Continuing to challenge these barriers and inspiring other women to do the same is a valuable contribution to gender equality and the evolution of society. I suggest research into how gender issues are addressed in formal and informal education, exploring how children and young people learn about gender and how these lessons affect their attitudes and behaviors. I highlight the scarcity of work on women in management control as a limitation of my research, underscoring the need for further investigation in this field. My accounts can serve as a solid basis for future discussions on the importance of more research and resources to understand women's achievements in this specific area.