From isolating to blending contrasting self-attributes: a grounded theory of professional identity development in undergraduate architecture, engineering, and construction women
Andrea Nana Ofori-Boadu, Rabiatu Bonku · 2026
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Description
Andrea Nana Ofori-Boadu and Rabiatu Bonku built a theory of professional identity in women studying architecture, engineering, and construction in a 2026 study. These fields are male dominated, and women must negotiate clashing expectations as they become professionals. Earlier work mostly took snapshots rather than following the process over time.
The team interviewed 78 undergraduates at five United States institutions across seven rounds, comparing accounts as they built their theory. Women moved gradually from isolating clashing parts of themselves to blending them into one professional identity. A shared coping pattern also emerged, which they name with a new term: women drew on collective resilience, aiming at influential, helpful roles that widen inclusion. The framework ties identity content, process, and setting together.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Andrea Nana Ofori-Boadu, Rabiatu Bonku |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 140 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |