Senso de pertencimento das mulheres em projetos de software

Abstract

Gender diversity is an important feature for software development. Studies show that teams with more diversity are more productive. Objective: The objective of this research is to investigate the sense of belonging for women contributors in software projects, in order to understand the perception and influence of this feeling. Method: When carrying out the initial analysis of this work considering the academic literature, it was verified that this subject is recent and very present in the reality of the projects. Therefore, information from the industry and non-academic software projects represent relevant data for the work. In order to complement the research, a multivocal review considering the gray literature was carried out to deepen the analyses. Results: The results of the systematic review highlighted the relevance of the sense of belonging in relation to other motivations, evidencing it as a key element for female engagement. In addition, the multivocal review deepened the perception of this sense, identifying six categories that shape the experience of belonging and analyzing their direct impact on women’s motivation, performance and retention in the area or project. Conclusions: Thus, working with strategies that strengthen women’s sense of belonging, such as creating welcoming environments, promoting respectful interactions and ensuring ongoing support, are essential practices to increase diversity and inclusion in this sector.