Lesbian firefighters: shifting the boundaries between masculinity and femininity.
This qualitative study explores the interaction between gender and sexuality, comparing the experiences of lesbian and heterosexual women firefighters in the UK. It finds that female firefighters are constructed in terms of their sexuality. Lesbians may find it easier than heterosexual women to be accepted into the "watch culture," in which "masculinity" is highly prized and fitting in with colleagues is seen as essential for performing the job safely. Lesbians who come out at work may also avoid unwanted sexual attention, which is often problematic for heterosexual women who are stereotyped as being sexually available to male firefighters. While the acceptance of lesbian sexuality is based largely on the adoption of characteristics defined as "masculine," lesbians also provide a challenge to accepted models of "femininity."
Wright
Tessa
T
Working Lives Research Institute, London Metropolitan University, London, UK. t.wright@londonmet.ac.uk
D000328:Adult; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005390:Fires; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007062:Identification, Psychological; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D011287:Prejudice; D012649:Self Concept; D012938:Social Perception; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D014931:Women, Working / Q000523:psychology*