As carreiras femininas no espaço contemporâneo: trajetórias e perspectivas de mulheres profissionais brasileiras

Abstract

This manuscript aims to assess the perspectives for professional womens careers, considering the current context of employment, the labor market and changes in organizations and humen resource management in order to support career policies more aligned to the real needs of these professionals. ln the theoretical part, the context of employment and labor market are explored as well as changes in organizations and human resource management with a focus on careers, careers concepts presented taking into account the organizational and individual perspective on the career subject. The specific context of professional women is also discussed. The methodological approach undertaken included the holding of a descriptive and qualitative research. Five focus group were undertaken in which l6 professional women attended. The focus group supported the construction of the Survey that was completed by 694 participants. Data analysis was divided into seven areas: l) Career concepts; 2) Context;3) Elements of bureaucracy; 4) Moral harassment; 5) Career instruments, practices and policies; 6) Career strategies and; 7) Professional women's adequacy and happiness with their careers. The results demonstrate that the concept of wo1nen's careers is dynamic andindividually focused, professional women demand flexibility in working hours and virtual working is a reality in professional womens careers. Moreover, they see labor legislation with a focus on women's work as positive and are motivated by psychological contract in a much more significant fashion than the traditional employment contract. Professional women still experience strong prejudice to their presence in certain economics sectors/areas and positions in business/geographical regions, they believe that their wages should include a fixed component and that there are personal issues related to the fact that professional women earn more than your loving couple. They also realize that the unfavorable economic context, that is more pronounced in public than in private sector, is attracting women to public career. Besides, they notice as having a positive impact on their careers bureaucratic assumptions,such as the presence of the hierarchy, the existence of positions, rules, demands, the existence of friendship ties and the cooperation of the working environment. On the other hand, they perceive as having negative impact the disregard of the feelings of the professional businessleaders, especially in times of unfavorable economic contexts. Professional women suffer harassment, which negatively impacts their career prospects. The results also show that, from professional women optics, there are instruments, policies and practices of career still littleused by companies that enhance their careers. As careers strategies, they seek continuing education, they are getting prepared for other careers, are experiencing a moment of reflection about the balance between personal and professional life, and the younger ones, are seeing themselves are more dysfunctional with regards to the balance between personal life and professional life. Large companies, are perceived as environments that promote more misalignment and generate more overload. Professional women who are mothers considerthemselves more balanced and happier about their careers.