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arXiv · 2508.06778

Gender and Careers in Platform-Mediated Work: A Longitudinal Study of Online Freelancers

Pyeonghwa Kim·Steve Sawyer·Michael Dunn
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Abstract

We advance gender-inclusive research within the CSCW field by investigating the long-term gendered experiences of online freelancers on digital labor platforms. The prevalence of gender-based inequalities has attracted significant attention within the CSCW community. Yet, insights remain limited on how these inequalities shape workers' long-term experiences on digital labor platforms. Through a five-year longitudinal study of 105 freelancers on Upwork, we reveal persistent gender disparities that influence workers' long-term work and career trajectories, raising concerns about the sustainability of platform-mediated work. We advance the ongoing dialogue on gender inclusivity in the community by introducing the concepts of career disempowerment and platform-mediated motherhood penalty and by offering research and design implications for CSCW to foster more sustainable, equitable platform work environments for all genders.

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Pyeonghwa Kim, Steve Sawyer, Michael Dunn. 2025-08-09. Gender and Careers in Platform-Mediated Work: A Longitudinal Study of Online Freelancers. https://doi.org/10.1145/3757606

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