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The paradoxical processes of feminization in the professions: the case of established, aspiring and semi-professions

Author

Listed:
  • Sharon Bolton

    (Strathclyde University, UK, Sharon.Bolton@gsb.strath.ac.uk)

  • Daniel Muzio

    (Leeds University, UK, D.Muzio@lubs.leeds.ac.uk)

Abstract

The past three decades have been characterized by dramatic labour market developments including the mass entry of women to exclusively male domains. Professional work is particularly indicative of this trend where growth in female membership has fuelled optimistic predictions of shattered glass ceilings and gender equality. This article seeks to challenge these predictions and to explore the associated assumptions linked with the feminization of work in the UK. It does so by focusing on three professional groups: law, teaching and management which, despite some substantial differences, present a common and recurrent theme in the gendered processes of professional projects that marginalize, downgrade and exploit women and women's work. It is argued that the fluidity of such processes lead to a series of paradoxes as the professions are increasingly dependent on the contribution of their female members and yet numerical feminization, without truly including women, serves to undermine and even reverse professional projects.

Suggested Citation

  • Sharon Bolton & Daniel Muzio, 2008. "The paradoxical processes of feminization in the professions: the case of established, aspiring and semi-professions," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 22(2), pages 281-299, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:22:y:2008:i:2:p:281-299
    DOI: 10.1177/0950017008089105
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gerard Hanlon, 1999. "Lawyers, the State and the Market," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-349-14686-4.
    2. Jeffrey Evans Stake & Kenneth G. Dau‐Schmidt & Kaushik Mukhopadhaya, 2007. "Income and Career Satisfaction in the Legal Profession: Survey Data from Indiana Law School Graduates," Journal of Empirical Legal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 4(4), pages 939-981, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Charlotta Stern, 2016. "Undoing Insularity: A Small Study of Gender Sociology’s Big Problem," Econ Journal Watch, Econ Journal Watch, vol. 13(3), pages 452–466-4, September.
    2. Edgley, Carla & Sharma, Nina & Anderson-Gough, Fiona, 2016. "Diversity and professionalism in the Big Four firms: Expectation, celebration and weapon in the battle for talent," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 13-34.
    3. McDonald, Ruth & Campbell, Stephen & Lester, Helen, 2009. "Practice nurses and the effects of the new general practitioner contract in the English National Health Service: The extension of a professional project?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(7), pages 1206-1212, April.
    4. Bosch, Maria José & Heras, Mireia Las & Russo, Marcello & Rofcanin, Yasin & Grau i Grau, Marc, 2018. "How context matters: The relationship between family supportive supervisor behaviours and motivation to work moderated by gender inequality," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 46-55.
    5. Ozbilgin, Mustafa F. & Tsouroufli, Maria & Smith, Merryn, 2011. "Understanding the interplay of time, gender and professionalism in hospital medicine in the UK," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(10), pages 1588-1594, May.
    6. Haynes, Kathryn, 2017. "Accounting as gendering and gendered: A review of 25 years of critical accounting research on gender," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 110-124.

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