Gender and Sexuality in Male-Dominated Occupations

Examining women's diverse experiences of male-dominated work, this ground-breaking book explores what sexuality and gender means to women working in the construction and transport industries. Using accounts from heterosexual women and lesbians working in professional, manual and operational roles, Gender and Sexuality in Male-Dominated Occupations adopts an intersectional approach to examine advantage and disadvantage on the basis of gender, sexuality and occupational class in these sectors. Drawing on interviews and focus groups, the author examines why women choose to enter male-dominated industries, their experiences of workplace relations, their use of women's support networks and trade unions, and the interface between home and work lives. Presenting international and UK-based examples of effective interventions to increase women's participation in male-dominated work, this important book highlights the need for political will to tackle women's underrepresentation, and suggests directions for the future.  

Tessa Wright is a senior lecturer in Human Resource Management at the Centre for Research in Equality and Diversity, Queen Mary University of London, UK. Her research covers equality and discrimination at work, with an interest in strategies for advancing equality, including through trade unions.