ABSTRACT
Conference interpreting, a male-dominated profession prior to the Nuremberg Trials, underwent a major shift with the rise of simultaneous interpreting. With the transition from the stage to the booth, it became a female-dominated profession. Currently, particularly accentuated during the Covid pandemic, the interpreting field is undergoing yet another pivotal change. Interpreters, accustomed to working in the booths, suddenly found themselves thrust into remote work settings from their homes. The shift to remote interpreting has introduced gendered differences in how interpreters engage with the (now partly online) profession. This chapter focuses on interpreters’ experiences of remote interpreting. Drawing insights from interviews conducted with 23 interpreters, our exploration unveils a nuanced relationship between the interpreters’ approach to remote settings and their gender, as well as their marital and family statuses. The findings shed light on substantial variations in the perspectives of women and men concerning remote interpreting. Furthermore, an examination of women with distinct marital and family statuses reveals divergent viewpoints on the practice. In essence, this study posits that remote interpreting, a form of telecommuting, reveals a rationale for gendered approaches to technology within the interpreting profession.
