Risk taking business Vikings: Gendered dynamics in Icelandic banks and financial companies

Abstract

Feminist scholars have long emphasized the masculine culture of the financial sector, where a certain gendered structure is created and sustained. The capitalistic economy and the culture of multinational corporations play a leading role in creating and promoting new patterns of masculinity - the transnational business masculinity - on both global and local levels. It is thus important to analyze how this takes place in a local context. Following the economic collapse in Iceland, a strong emphasis formed in the public discussion on a changed gender dynamic in financial firms and in general. This article focuses on the experience of those working within the financial sector in relation to the position of men and women, contextualized within a scholarly discourse. It is based upon interviews with employees of financial institutions, where they reflect on their experience and views masculinity, essentialism and equality.

Keywords

• Fjármálastofnanir
• hrunið
• kyngervi
• karlmennska
• jafnrétti.