S01E43 - Sexism in Silicon Slopes: Religion and Gendered Organizational Structures in the New Economy

This research explores how Latter-day Saint religious doctrines inadvertently foster gender inequality within Utah’s modern technology sector, known as Silicon Slopes. Through extensive interviews and ethnography, the author demonstrates that the LDS Proclamation on the Family creates a cultural logic that prioritizes motherhood over careers for women, leading to economic precarity and professional disenfranchisement. These religious values penetrate educational pipelines and corporate structures, often discouraging women from pursuing graduate degrees or leadership roles. Even when founders are no longer active in the faith, gendered organizational norms persist, restricting women's access to vital professional networks and mentorship. Ultimately, the study reveals that religious teachings continue to shape labor dynamics and corporate language, reinforcing glass ceilings in the contemporary economy.Citation:Hulme, Alyssa. 2025. “Sexism in Silicon Slopes: Religion and Gendered Organizational Structures in the New Economy.” Journal of the Mormon Social Science Association 3(1):43–77. doi:10.54587/JMSSA.0303.