A horizon circumscribed by norms? – five gay men discussing career and work

Abstract

ABSTRACTSweden is known for strong traditions of gender equality and liberal attitudes to variations in sexual orientation. However, the Swedish labour market is strongly gender-segregated and LGB individuals have more difficulties finding employment than heterosexual peers. Thus, Sweden provides an interesting case for studying gender orders and sexual norms. Our aim in this study was to acquire a deeper understanding of reflections of Swedish gay men on their career and occupational considerations, how they explicitly and implicitly relate to gender structures in Swedish society, and gender normativity in this context. We applied a theoretical framework combining concepts of gender order and hegemonic masculinities formulated by Connell, and an extension of Bourdieu's theoretical framework regarding habitus to careership. The results indicate (inter alia) that our informants’ sexual orientation affected their horizons for action, and corroborate previous conclusions that feeling secure with a sexual orientation outside the heterosexual norm usually has positive career effects.