ABSTRACT
The masculine in trade unions is defined partly against women members. Cunnison and Stageman suggest that women members problematise hidden dimensions of unionism such as negotiating style which are based on masculine culture. In their view, some union men are openly questioning the culture of patriarchal masculinity and its consequences for the unions (1993: 185). As pointed out already, they also identified important flashpoints for change such as campaigns around sexual harassment. In addition, they claimed a culture of femininity had the potential to set new priorities because women’s lives are grounded in working-class community as well as in paid work and in caring for others. Women’s agendas have always been wider than men’s (Cunnison and Stageman 1993: 242).
