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Pride Against Prejudice? The Stakes of Concealment and Disclosure of a Stigmatized Identity for Gay and Lesbian Auditors

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  • Sebastien Stenger

    (Institut Supérieur de Gestion (ISG), France)

  • Thomas J Roulet

    (King’s College London, UK)

Abstract

How do individuals choose to conceal a stigmatized attribute and what are the consequences of such a choice? We answer this question by looking at how gay and lesbian employees make sense of their homosexuality in the highly normative context of audit firms. As a first step, we unveil the subtle pressures exerted on those who possess concealable stigmatized identities. Homosexual auditors engage in partial or full concealment of their sexuality. They live in the fear of being misjudged and cast out of a context in which male values are tantamount. However, the efforts required to conceal create a situation of unrest, which eventually interferes with their social integration at work. We draw on rich ethnographic material in French audit firms, benefitting from the exogenous shock of a gay marriage bill. The study’s findings shed new light on audit as a gendered profession and the cost of concealing stigmatized invisible identities.

Suggested Citation

  • Sebastien Stenger & Thomas J Roulet, 2018. "Pride Against Prejudice? The Stakes of Concealment and Disclosure of a Stigmatized Identity for Gay and Lesbian Auditors," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 32(2), pages 257-273, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:32:y:2018:i:2:p:257-273
    DOI: 10.1177/0950017016682459
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    9. Bitbol-Saba, Nathalie & Dambrin, Claire, 2019. "“It’s not often we get a visit from a beautiful woman!” The body in client-auditor interactions and the masculinity of accountancy," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    10. Lai Si Tsui‐Auch & Dongdong Huang & Jun Jie Yang & Si Zheng Koh, 2022. "Double Trouble: Containing Public Disapproval Arising from an Interplay of Stigmatized Categories," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(8), pages 2101-2123, December.
    11. Shabneez Bhankaraully & Michel Goyer & Jeremy Aroles, 2023. "Workplace discrimination against LGBT employees in Mauritius: A sociological perspective," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 44(4), pages 1105-1126, November.
    12. Marina Lacatena & Ferdinando Ramaglia & Federica Vallone & Maria Clelia Zurlo & Massimiliano Sommantico, 2024. "Lesbian and Gay Population, Work Experience, and Well-Being: A Ten-Year Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(10), pages 1-16, October.
    13. Sarah Barnard & Andrew Dainty & Sian Lewis & Andreas Culora, 2023. "Conceptualising Work as a ‘Safe Space’ for Negotiating LGBT Identities: Navigating Careers in the Construction Sector," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 37(6), pages 1565-1582, December.
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