Women's formal networking: The relationship between networking activities and power

This article examines the networking that takes place within formally organized internal (organization-based) and external (industry-based) women engineers' networks. Drawing upon 48 interviews with engineers, across a number of industries seniority levels, mostly in UK, contributes to scarce empirical literature examining formal women's engineering, terms its role individual support collective change. By adopting Allen's (1998, 1999) definition feminist power shifting focus analysis from merely instrumental other types activities, study empirically theoretically understanding how has potential help female engineers stay change profession. Despite critiques networks lack ability make positive difference for women, when conceptualizations are adopted, these can be considered empower them variety ways. Our data identifies wider particularly useful as force