Assessing Admiration for Women Who Do "Men's Work".

This article investigates perceptions and experiences of women working in male-dominated skilled trades—referred to as "crossovers"—in Conakry, the capital of the Republic of Guinea. Drawing on interviews and focus groups, it finds that crossovers are widely admired as brave and virtuous for pursuing gender atypical work, especially in contrast to women perceived as dependent on men financially. However, despite this admiration, crossovers often face paternalism, harassment, and exclusion in the workplace, which contributes to their low numbers and high dropout rates. The study highlights how positive discourse about crossovers simultaneously challenges and reinforces occupational gender segregation by valorizing exceptional women while sustaining stereotypes about most women’s roles. It concludes that the subversive potential of admiring crossovers depends on how such narratives translate into everyday social interactions and workplace dynamics.