CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020
| Author | Veér, Zsófia |
|---|---|
| Title | Feminine Capital? Feminized Creche Work and Masculine Labor Organizing in Hungary |
| Summary | This thesis examines the possible effects of the full feminization of an occupational field on its union through a case study of crèche workers in Hungary and their union, the Democratic Trade Union of Crèche Employees (BDDSZ). The thesis draws on the theory of gender capital and feminine capital (Huppatz, 2009; McCall, 1992) and poses the following research question: Are the feminine and/or female capitals possessed by crèche employees capitalized on also by BDDSZ? It also analyzes the gendered nature of BDDSZ’s operation and the ways in which this is similar or different to the gendered operation of the crèche and looks at how crèche employees capitalize on femininity and femaleness. The study is based on data from participant observation during an internship at BDDSZ and fifteen interviews with union members and leadership. I argue that while crèche employees utilize feminine and female capitals in their profession, BDDSZ does not, and relies primarily on masculinity and masculine organizational norms instead. I demonstrate that crèche employees draw on female capital because there is a requirement to have a female body in the profession and build on feminine capital because they can become better workers if they display stereotypically feminine qualities and skills. Through the utilization of these capitals, crèche employees exclude men from the field, achieve work-life balance, and draw satisfaction and meaning from their job. Meanwhile, BDDSZ does not utilize feminine or female capitals. Whereas the ideal worker norm (Acker, 1990; Williams, 2000) is challenged in the crèche, it is reinforced in the union as members and officials are expected to invest significant time and energy into activism. Union leadership is expected to draw on stereotypically masculine qualities and skills. The organizational logic of the union is gender-neutral where there is a lack of awareness of the gendered nature of both crèche work and union activism. This thesis expands on the scholarly literature on gender capital through demonstrating that in some contexts, not only masculinity or maleness can be of value but also demonstrates the limitations of utilizing femininity as capital, as well as the wielding of masculinity by women and the wielding of femininity by men. Scholarly work on women and unionism is also addressed through demonstrating that a public-sector union with a fully feminized membership and leadership does not challenge traditional, male-dominated unionism in the Hungarian context. Furthermore, the research contributes to the literature on gender and work by analyzing an occupation where the glass escalator (Williams, 1992) does not benefit men and where the ideal worker norm can be challenged within the field. Examining these questions in the post-socialist context of Hungary where unions historically had a different role than in Western countries and where traditional gender roles and an anti-gender discourse is prevalent is important because it yields different results than in the Anglo-American contexts. Understanding the conflict between the gendered nature of crèche and union is important to possibly push towards more effective organization. |
| Supervisor | Fodor, Éva |
| Department | Gender Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2020/veer_zsofia.pdf |
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