The production of gender and class identities in two Portuguese casinos: the case of barmaids and croupiers

Abstract

Being a woman employed in the world of casinos implies the performance of different imaginaries related to “appropriate” femininity. What defines the appropriateness of a certain type of femininity is the nature of the functions performed and where those functions stand in the hierarchical structure of the organization. Based on an ethnographic investigation, this article analyzes the contrast between the gender performances of barmaids and croupiers in two Portuguese casinos. We follow a feminist theoretical line based on intersectionality, and conclude that the distinction between the gender performances of the two functions is closely related to social class.