Gender based tokenism a qualitative study on male-dominant and female-dominant professions

Traditional gender identities, roles and stereotypes attributed to women and men have caused some problems in the socialization process of individuals. Gender discrimination against women is one of these problems, thus, women have lower status in both social and organizational life. The phenomenon of tokenism, which is a derivative of gender discrimination, is the main theme of this study. Kanter (1977a)'s theory of tokenism states that individuals who are available in limited number in their professions face more problems than professions and workplaces where there is a balanced distribution among groups. Kanter called these experiences the dimensions of tokenism. The researchers who works on the tokenism after Kanter pointed out that there are different experiences apart from the experiences revealed by Kanter and that these experiences have different reflections on male and female tokens. In this study, performance pressure, boundary heightening, role encapsulation revealed by Kanter (1977a) and the status differences, occupational inappropriate and intrusiveness dimensions revealed by Yoder (1991, 1996, 2002) are handled together. In this context, the study was carried out with the aim of exploring the experiences of men in female-dominated professions and women in male-dominated professions. Professions dominated by women were identified as preschool teachers, nursing and stewardess. The professions dominated by men were determined as coaching, prison officers, police officers and forest engineering. The study was conducted with the participation of token group members and dominant group members in the female and male dominant professions. This conducted research is important since it investigates all of these experiences in question expressed as dimensions of tokenism together. In addition, this study is the first study in Turkey which is investigating these dimensions and it also reveals significant determinations. This study is important as it explains the critical effects of traditionally accepted roles on individuals' professional lives. Second, it provides information for the determination of "in which conditions and for whom the traditional roles in question becomes a barrier or a glass escalator in a professional life". Third, it explains which methods the employees in the professions not suitable for women and men use to solve the experienced conflict and tensions they face due to stereotypes. Keywords: Tokenism, gender, status, male-dominated occupations, female-dominated occupations.