%0 Journal Article
%T Anatomy of women¡¯s participation in small professional unions
%A Gill Kirton
%J Economic and Industrial Democracy
%@ 1461-7099
%D 2018
%R 10.1177/0143831X15606981
%X This article brings the neglected topic of small professional unions into the women and unions literature. In addition to an overview of women¡¯s representation and gender equality strategies in small professional UK unions, it offers a contextually grounded analysis of barriers and enablers of women¡¯s participation in Napo ¨C the union representing professional workers in the probation service. The article identifies several enablers: healthy levels of women¡¯s representation over a long period of time; presence and longevity of gender equality strategies; a strong occupational identity; occupational values that complement those of unionism. However, a highly pressured work environment and hostile industrial relations climate create lived insecurities, work¨Clife imbalance and time poverty, which have constrained women professionals¡¯ union participation
%K Gender equality
%K industrial relations
%K professional women
%K unions
%K women¡¯s participation
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0143831X15606981