“Oh, you look pretty on your knees”: Exploring Gendered Safety Work in Traditionally Masculine Workplaces
Breeanna M. R. Melville, Peta L. Dzidic and Chantel Tichbon
Gendered safety work is a response to gender-based violence (GBV) where harm is caused through the reinforcing of problematic gender norms, or through actions against others based on their gender identity or sexuality.
Traditionally masculine, or male-dominated, workplaces often have a culture that lends itself to sexual harassment and GBV. To prevent the threat and experience of GBV, individuals report altering their behaviours via ‘safety work’.
The aim of this study was to explore the perception people have of their engagement in gendered safety work in the context of traditionally masculine workplaces.
Reflexive thematic analysis and social constructionist epistemology were adopted; 13 in-depth interviews were conducted.
Participants identified as working in a traditionally masculine workplace, and as currently or previously aligning with womanhood or femininity.
Four themes were identified: workplace gendered safety work; burden of responsibility; deprivation of independence; and gendered workplace culture.
Notably, participants reported making personal sacrifices to ensure their safety at work, for example downplaying their expression of femininity to avoid sexual harassment and avoiding confrontation to ensure job security.
Findings allowed further development of our conceptualisation of safety work and its gendered aspects.
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