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Banter and beyond: The role of humor in addressing gendered organizational tensions and belonging within the UK Fire and Rescue Service

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Listed:
  • Anna Brown
  • Ruth Woodfield

Abstract

This article explores the role of humor, specifically banter, in addressing gendered organizational tensions within the UK Fire and Rescue Service during a period of modernizing change. Such tensions reflect who holds authority and who is deemed to belong, and we explore how banter is used to both contest and confirm authority associated with the formal rank system and the informal, masculinist ideal‐typical worker in this context. We discuss banter's various roles as a cohering mode of humorous workplace communication, one that can reduce tension and consolidate authority and belonging, as well as its boundary setting, testing, and crossing capacities. In terms of the latter, we ask whether banter can genuinely trouble masculinist organizational norms. We conclude that specific humorous episodes that go “beyond banter” create particular ambivalence, but their impact is significantly limited by widespread discursive acceptance of banter as a central and permissible communication mode in the Service's culture.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Brown & Ruth Woodfield, 2024. "Banter and beyond: The role of humor in addressing gendered organizational tensions and belonging within the UK Fire and Rescue Service," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(6), pages 2601-2617, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:gender:v:31:y:2024:i:6:p:2601-2617
    DOI: 10.1111/gwao.13110
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Esmée Hanna & Brendan Gough & Steven Markham, 2020. "Masculinities in the construction industry: A double‐edged sword for health and wellbeing?," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(4), pages 632-646, July.
    2. Meraiah Foley & Sarah Oxenbridge & Rae Cooper & Marian Baird, 2022. "‘I’ll never be one of the boys’: Gender harassment of women working as pilots and automotive tradespeople," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(5), pages 1676-1691, September.
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