Inside the net: Women composers’ use of online communities of practice to build and support their careers

Sophie Hennekam (), Sally Macarthur (), Dawn Bennett (), Cat Hope () and Talisha Goh ()
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Sophie Hennekam: Audencia Recherche - Audencia Business School
Sally Macarthur: Western Sydney University, Western Sydney University
Dawn Bennett: CBS - Curtin Business School - Curtin University
Cat Hope: Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music, Monash University
Talisha Goh: Western Australian Academy of Performings Arts, Edith Cowan University

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Abstract: Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine women composers' use of online communities of practice (CoP) to negotiate the traditionally masculine space of music composition while operating outside its hierarchical structures. Design/methodology/approach The authors employed a mixed methods approach consisting of an online survey ( n =225) followed by 27 semi-structured in-depth interviews with female composers to explore the concept and use of CoP. Content analysis was used to analyze the survey responses and interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to interpret respondents' lived experiences as relayed in the interviews. Findings The findings reveal that the online environment can be a supportive and safe space for female composers to connect with others and find support, feedback and mentorship, increase their visibility and develop career agency through learning and knowledge acquisition. CoP emerged as an alternative approach to career development for practicing female music workers and as a tool which could circumvent some of the enduring gendered challenges. Originality/value The findings suggest that online CoP can have a positive impact on the career development and sustainability of women in male-dominated sectors such as composition.

Date: 2019-09-23
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cul and nep-pay
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-03232763v1
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Published in Personnel Review, 2019, 49 (1), pp.215-230. ⟨10.1108/pr-02-2018-0059⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03232763

DOI: 10.1108/pr-02-2018-0059

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