Thinking about gender, thinking about a common space of observation and discussion of the work activity of the other: the case of bus drivers

Abstract

The work activity of urban bus drivers is held in the public space and characterized by a constant vigilance, but the moments of observation the colleagues’ work are scarce. This fact results in a paradox – it is a work activity that is more visible to "outsiders" than to "insiders" - which has an important impact on the debate of the work activity from a perspective of gender and the women’s work in a predominantly male context. Ergonomic analysis of work and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 urban public transport drivers, 16 women and 16 men. The results reveal the lack of conditions for the drivers’ knowledge of the activity of another, especially when that other is a woman - while men attribute characteristics to women based on gender stereotypes and an extension of their role in the private sphere, women relate them with the need to prove their competence and be recognized. It is proposed the development, in the context of training, of a space for debate and knowledge of the activity of the other and for the creation of conditions for another integration of women in the profession and for another visibility of their work.