Gender and Distribution of Tasks Among the Body of National Park Rangers. Research Progress

Abstract

This paper presents the first progress of a research whose objective is to study the process of incorporation of women to the Body of National Park Rangers, understanding this is a traditionally masculine institution. In consideration of the objectives, we use a qualitative methodology, with unstructured and in-depth interviews as the main technique. So far, the results account for the existence of horizontal segregation dynamics in which those tasks associated with traditional feminine roles are mainly assigned to women. Men, on the other hand, work to a larger extent in field tasks. These activities match not only the skills traditionally associated with the masculine world but also the institutional ideal of a park ranger. This research represents a significant contribution, since it deals with an institution that has been little studied by the social sciences in our country, focusing on its genderization and the distribution of tasks by gender.