Tokens in gendered professions: consequences and reactions

Abstract

Based on a literature review about the persistent gender inequality in the work environment in Western societies, this article analyzes different professional contexts historically restricted to women or men with the aim of determining whether women in professions dominated by men, and men in professions dominated by women, are subject to the same consequences and react similarly, or not. Through a gender perspective, we show that in contexts of tokenism, men are subject to more positive consequences than women, and are more pro-active.