‪The Effects of Gender Diversity Through the Lens of the Body and Sexuality‪. ‪Men in Greeting Work‪

Sophie Louey, Gabrielle Schütz and Juliette Rogers

Travail et Emploi, 2015, vol. HS 2015, issue 5, 109-132

Abstract: ?Men holding so-called ?women?s? jobs have received little attention in academic studies of the effects of gender diversity on the sexual division of labour and careers. This article explores this issue based on studies of people in greeting work, emphasizing how the body and sexuality, which are particularly solicited by this activity, have an impact on gender relations. Two ethnographic studies in different greeting contexts (receptionists and special event hosting) show that gendered conceptions of the body participate in the establishment of a sexual division of tasks, which leads to greater freedom of action and less supervision for men in everyday work. ?Flirting? at work has differential effects on greeters depending on their gender. It helps men preserve a traditional, heterosexual definition of virility, while allowing them to avoid the subordination and marginalisation resulting from their position in the division of labour and employment. At the same time, it keeps female greeters in occupational isolation. In conclusion, the study of greeters? careers is used to evaluate the possible existence of a ?glass escalator? for men.?

Keywords: careers; gender diversity; body; sexuality; receptionists; event hosting; flirting at work; sexual division of labour (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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