Professional Internships and Working Conditions in the Context of Women in the Workplace

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to identify differences in the working conditions of professional internships between men and women from a psychosocial perspective, analyzing their performance and the quality of these experiences. Special attention was given to the experiences of young women in these contexts, proposing a differentiated approach. Method: a qualitative, biographical approach was employed. In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 young people undergoing internships, from which life stories were constructed to reflect their personal and professional trajectories. The collected information was subjected to content analysis. Results: the findings did not reveal significant differences in the general conditions of the internships, as both groups reported having adequate resources for satisfactory formative development. However, differences emerged in the area of performance perception: women expressed a greater sense of uncertainty and a constant questioning of their own competencies. Furthermore, from an intersectional perspective, it was found that some women, particularly those belonging to specific ethnic groups, living in socially and economically disadvantaged territories, or who were mothers, faced additional challenges.  Conclusions: personal trajectories and intersectional social factors give rise to differentiated experiences that shape how students confront and make meaning of their formative process.