IT-Enabled Performative Spaces in Gender Segregated Work

Prior research has extended Giddens' (1984) structuration theory to incorporate material agency as part of a social-technical ensemble. Yet the ways in which physicaldigital spaces contextualise interactions and structure work practices is under explored. In our study, we extend concepts of locale and regionalisation from structuration theory to IS fields of research in digitally mediated communication, and define ‘technical settings of interaction’ constituted by human and material agencies. The case of gender segregated work in Saudi is used to illustrate the performativity of these digital spaces, and shows how workers use technical configurations in ICTs to create zones of interaction that can challenge existing cultural norms. Finally, we argue that attending to Giddens’ focus on time-space not only adds an additional level of analysis to studying technology use, but also shows the potential of structurational research in contributing to discussions on materiality.