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Gender in Portuguese Firefighters: The Experiences and Strategies of Women

Author

Listed:
  • Beatriz Gomes Lopes

    (Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (Iscte-IUL), 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • António Manuel Marques

    (Escola Superior de Saúde do Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, 2910-76 Setúbal, Portugal)

  • Maria Helena Santos

    (CIS-Iscte, Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (Iscte-IUL), 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Beatriz Gomes Lopes & António Manuel Marques & Maria Helena Santos, 2024. "Gender in Portuguese Firefighters: The Experiences and Strategies of Women," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-22, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:13:y:2024:i:8:p:431-:d:1460758
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Joy C. MacDermid & Margaret Lomotan & Mostin A. Hu, 2021. "Canadian Career Firefighters’ Mental Health Impacts and Priorities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-24, December.
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