Moving on the connectivity continuum : performing gender in times of constant connectivity

Purpose: Given the reality of expectations of constant connectivity with work anytime, anywhere, this paper aims to investigate the gendered implications of these new expectations in the workplace focusing on the gender gap in work connectivity as well as the reasons behind it. Design/methodology/approach: This paper is based on a large cross-national mixed methods study, using a quantitative survey within one multinational technology company (N = 7,256) and 69 in-depth interviews with female employees from five different countries all employed by the case study organization, exploring the extent and reasons behind the gender gap in work connectivity. Findings: New communication technologies enable us to work temporally and spatially flexibly by providing us the opportunity for constant work connectivity from anywhere, anytime. This paper finds that women across a diverse set of cultural backgrounds reject the possibility for work connectivity significantly more often than their male peers leading to a gender gap in connectivity and it brings to the fore how and why women negotiate their level of connectivity as they do. Originality/value: This study contributes to the existing work-family-balance and gender workplace study literatures by statistically and qualitatively expanding our knowledge on the gender gap in work connectivity across multiple countries and cultural contexts and by dismantling a further mechanism that leads to the glass ceiling.