Surveillance and Discipline in the Workplace: A Foucauldian Analysis of Working Women
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63283/IRJ.04.02/02Keywords:
Foucauldian power, power-knowledge, working institution, gender discrimination,, resistance, violationAbstract
This study examines the dynamics of workplace power through the theoretical framework of Michael Foucault, focusing on the experiences of working women. Drawing on Foucauldian theory of power relations, the research explores how power operates through hierarchical authority but also through subtle mechanisms such as surveillance, discipline, and workplace. The study employs a quantitative case study approach to investigate the everyday experiences of working women in organizational settings. Data were collected through random sampling technique using questionnaire to identify patterns of control, resistance, and negotiation within professional environment. The data collected from a total of 40 respondents were further analyzed through SPSS Statistics 20 software. The generated frequencies were examined through descriptive analysis to relate the respondents’ choices to the Foucault’s theory. The findings reveal that power in the workplace is dispersed and embedded in organizational practices, policies, and interpersonal interactions. By applying Foucault’s concept of power, the study highlights how workplace environments simultaneously restrain and enable women’s participation and advancement. The research contributes to discussions in gender and organizational studies and to understand the behavioral roles played by the women in professional setting.
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