Gender in portuguese firefighters: the experiences and strategies of women

Lopes, Beatriz Gomes; Marques, António Manuel; Santos, Maria Helena

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.26/51907

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Authors

Lopes, Beatriz Gomes

Marques, António Manuel

Santos, Maria Helena

Abstract(s)

This study sets out to analyze the negative effects of tokenism among a group of Portuguese female firefighters alongside the strategies they adopt to integrate into a male majority professional context and inherently associated with masculinity. Individual semi-structured interviews were carried out with nine men and nine women before their content was subject to thematic analysis. The results confirm how, in the context of the work performed by firefighters, there is a clear differentiation between the genders, with women both being more visible and leading to conformity to depicting stereotypical femininity. In order to fit in, female firefighters attempt to replicate the attitudes of their male colleagues, demonstrate high standards of performance, and tone down any expression of perceivably feminine characteristics.

Keywords

Firefighters Tokenism Gender relations Portuguese women

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.26/51907

Citation

Lopes, B.G., Marques, A.M. & Santos, M.H. (2024). Gender in portuguese firefighters: The experiences and strategies of women. Social Sciences, 13(8), 431.