Women leaders in rail: a postfeminist aesthetic femininity

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

This chapter explores women leaders' outward appearance in the male-dominated world of rail, through the lenses of postfeminism and neoliberalism. Drawing on 31 interviews with women leaders in rail, it maps how a postfeminist logic is evident in women leaders' narratives of aesthetic femininity. Aesthetic femininity refers to women leaders' outward appearance which they describe as feminine. The research participants justify their feminine 'work style' through postfeminist themes of individual choice, natural sex differences, irony, personal initiative, skill and empowerment. The findings also show a patterning of justification around aesthetic femininity that fits a neoliberal self-governance as enterprise, self-flexibility and self-confidence. It is argued that whilst these iterations of aesthetic femininity are rooted in postfeminist and neoliberal contexts, they have consequences for sustaining gendered inequalities and traditional feminine norms in the highly masculinised culture of rail. Women's narratives, whereby gender inequalities are acknowledged then subsumed into individualised agency through dress and appearance, do little to challenge the gendered culture in this sector.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationWomen, Work and Transport
EditorsTessa Wright, Lucy Budd, Stephen Ison
Place of PublicationBingley, U.K
Pages105-121
Number of pages17
ISBN (Electronic)9781800716698
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 17 Oct 2022

Keywords

  • postfeminism
  • neoliberalism
  • rail industry
  • gender inequalities
  • clothing

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