Femininity and female identity of forest industry workers in Northern British Columbia from 1960 to 2000.

This research asked what effects, if any, working in the male-dominated forest industry had on femininity and female identity of women who chose to work in the forest industry of Northern British Columbia. In the literature when women are mentioned attention is focused on their relationship to men who are involved within forest industries. By using Feminist Standpoint Theory the participants’ stories are added to the discourse of the forest industry. What the findings propose is that the participants experienced an increase in strength physical, mental and emotional but they did not feel that their employment had any lasting effect on their femininity and female identity. While the women had many unique experiences interacting with forest industry employment, the same employment patterns are observable while studying male employees in the forest industry, such as the process to entry into the industry and the necessity of proving their capability performing the work. Therefore, aspects of women’s employment within the forest industry are much like men’s but work “in the bush” is still socially constructed as a masculine realm. Table of