‘I’m Just a Big Teddy Bear’: An Analysis of Men’s Professional Identity Narratives in Caring Occupations

ABSTRACT

Professionals in gender atypical occupations can face challenges throughout their careers. This qualitative study applies narrative theory to investigate how men in caring professions made sense of their career progression and professional identity in occupations composed primarily of women. Data were collected through 30 semi-structured interviews with men currently working in a caring profession. Findings showed men in caring professions constructed their career narratives around 3 major thematic elements: early socialization experiences, gender misplacement, and affirmation of professional identity. These narrative elements provided insight into participants’ choices to remain in the field, perceptions of the work they do, and ability to overcome occupational challenges. Additionally, this study exemplifies the value of coherent and meaningful narratives and advances the discussion in narrative identity literature by combining the concept of professional identity and narrative identity theory.

KEYWORDS:

• Narrative identity theory
• professional identity
• caring work
• gender

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Britney N. Gilmore

Britney N. Gilmore (Ph.D., University of Oklahoma) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Texas Christian University. Her research examines identity and discourse within occupations and professional groups and how they impact, and are shaped by, members’ wellbeing and work-related experiences.