Women in Docks

The study of the profession of port cargo handling has a particular interest for several reasons: a) It is located in a sector that still remains fully masculinized in any geographical point of the Spanish State, this indicates the level of resistance to the prevailing change in profession by men who compose and having power in such decisions; b) It is a profession or trade not regulated by the Statute of Workers (RDL 1/95) but by an employment relationship of a special nature (RD 2541/1994-RDLG 1/1995-RD 1424/2002-RDL 3 / 2005-RDL 2/2011). Unlike the domestic servants, where we find domestic workers, this sector offers a high level of protection and quality employment; and, c) it is a profession with severe entry barriers in access despite not require high levels of education or training which indicates the high level of existing bargaining power in the sector.

In this paper we present an investigation framed in a larger project which aims to inquire about gender labour segmentation. The object of study we place in a highly masculine occupation: women in docks.