Gender, diversity and intersectionality in professions and potential professions: analytical, historical and contemporary perspectives

The fields of gender studies, gender and organizations, diversity and diversity management, and intersectionality studies have all grown extensively in recent years as ways of analyzing social divisions. Each and all of these have major implications for the analysis of professions, even if the issues they raise have often not been at the forefront of mainstream studies. In this chapter we consider the relevance of gendered intersectional analysis for the understanding of professions, potential professions and professionalization. Indeed put this way, we may ask: is it really possible to analyze professions and professionalization without considering gender and gender relations? To read some of the classics in the vast literature on professions, you would think so.