Exploring Diversity-Driven Power Dynamics in Software Engineering Environments: Insights from a Qualitative Study

The presence of gender inequality in working environments is linked to broader societal issues, such as impediments to democratization and economic growth, affecting both developing and developed countries. In the Software Engineering (SE) field, gender imbalances seem to persist. While extensive research exists on the causes of these gender-based disparities, there is a notable gap in studies exploring how gender intersects with other diversity factors, particularly race, which may intensify discriminatory behaviors in the workplace. This paper investigates whether gender and racial diversity in certain educational and work environments drives the manifestation of power-mediated behaviors (i.e., influencing actions and goals or reshaping personal beliefs) within SE roles. We conducted semi-structured interviews with students in SE-related programs and professionals working in SE roles in Belgium to explore their perceptions of gender and racial diversity within their academic and professional environments. Utilizing an abductive research approach, we applied open, axial, and selective coding to structure the interview data. Our analysis aimed to identify key thematic maps (termed ‘code-trees’) and integrate them with a specific power-exertion framework. This exercise led us to derive specific interpretations (inferences) that illustrate how diversity influences and is influenced by power dynamics in SE environments. These interpretations can inform policy recommendations to foster equity, inclusivity, and representation in such environments. Our results demonstrate that power-exerting behaviors are primarily triggered by the presence of gender minorities, who experience discrimination in both study and work environments. In contrast, racial diversity does not appear to be consistently linked to coercive behaviors.