Abstract

The perceptions of women in the workforce take different forms. Customarily, the perception of women in the workforce leans toward women being somewhat docile and powerless and needing external empowerment, especially women in male-dominated/oriented fields. The literature conveys this mindset and philosophy that permeates our culture, perpetuates this perception, and influences many women. Nonetheless, women with a different reality or experience need corroboration that supports them and dispels the described cultural influences and the ensuing impact on the next generation. This study investigated women in the trucking industry to unveil the factors contributing to women's innate strength. This qualitative study uses a phenomenological approach, focusing on female commercial truck drivers working in the United States and Canada. The use of purposive sampling provided a basis for selecting the study participants. The participants include 14 female truck drivers, 28 to 75 years old. Individually their lived experience extends from 4 to 44 years, with 250,000 miles to over 4,000,000 miles as professional long-haul drivers. Data collected through interviewing the study participants revealed a broad range of developed capabilities, evolved mental acuity, intrinsic strengths, and several factors contributing to their success. The study’s findings brought to light authentic equality between men and women and their innately endowed differences in the same occupation performing the same work. These women excel and are in several ways superior in performance without the aid of social, political, or governmental programs of equity. Lastly, the lived experiences of the study participants presented evidence of female strength, her ability to forge through life and make agentic choices to overcome seen and unseen obstacles and impediments as God describes an ezer kenegdo (כנגדו עזר). These women exemplified simultaneously residing in and traversing the multiple intersections of life applicable to men and women.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Women truck drivers—United States; Women truck drivers—Canada

Date of Award

2023

School Affiliation

Graduate School of Education and Psychology

Department/Program

Education

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctorate

Faculty Advisor

Michael Patterson

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