From vulnerabilities to empowerment? Women's voices, action research and the creation of a global mentoring platform

Lopes, A; Durbin, S; Warren, S

doi:10.4324/9781032627175-6

From vulnerabilities to empowerment? Women's voices, action research and the creation of a global mentoring platform

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Ana Lopes ORCiD

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This is the authors' accepted manuscript of a book chapter that has been published in its final definitive form by Routledge, 2025.

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Abstract

This chapter focuses upon a particularly vulnerable organizational context for women: the UK aviation and aerospace industry, a heavily male-dominated industry where women struggle to find support, such as mentoring. It draws upon a case study of a women's mentoring platform co-designed by a team of academics and industry professionals. This case demonstrates how action research brings to the fore the voices of under-represented women; voices that are often diluted in traditional forms of research. By doing so, the chapter advances understanding of the co-production of 'actionable' knowledge through 'voice' and action research (Ripamonti, et al., 2016). We draw upon two key sources of data: focus groups held with women across the industry, including senior women and engineers; and data from a project group, formed as part of the project and comprising academics and industry partners. These two elements were at the heart of the action research project that culminated in an industry-wide mentoring platform 'for women/by women' operating through a digital platform. We argue that action research can enable women's voices to be heard, through the co-production of knowledge. We demonstrate how the mentoring platform, alta, provides a 'voice' and a community for women across the aviation and aerospace industry, empowering them to achieve their professional and personal goals.