Gender inequality persists in male-dominated industries such as information technology (IT), despite significant efforts to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion. This study examines how employees and managers in a global IT corporation interpret and justify gender disparities, and how these ideologies influence innovation processes. In our qualitative field study, we conducted 78 interviews across hierarchical levels in a multinational IT service company headquartered in India, supplemented by internal and external reports. Employing grounded theory, we identified interconnected gendered ideologies that employees and managers constructed based on organizational and professional standards, roles, and cultural factors. These narratives, though varied, collectively reinforced gender disparities. Our findings further reveal how these ideologies influence the power dynamics within innovation, ultimately affecting organizational outcomes. This study advances understanding of the interplay between gendered ideologies and innovation in male-dominated contexts, offering a holistic view of how ideologies based on multi-level antecedents (organizational, professional, and societal) perpetuate inequality. The findings hold relevance for IT professionals and organizations striving to address gender disparities in innovation teams.
