1st Edition

Queer Company The Role and Meaning of Friendship in Gay Men's Work Lives

By Nick Rumens Copyright 2011
    216 Pages
    by Routledge

    216 Pages
    by Routledge

    Drawn from in-depth qualitative research, Queer Company provides the first extended, academic analysis of gay men's workplace friendships, offering theoretical and empirical insights into a subject that is timely and important. Although theoretically framed in poststructuralism and the sociology of friendship, this book also draws on feminism, organisation studies, gender and sexuality studies to explore the diverse roles and meanings of gay men's workplace friendships. Shedding light on the significance of workplace friendship for those who participate in them, particularly in terms of how these workplace relationships can help gay men to construct meaningful identities and selves, Queer Company examines the manner in which gay men’s workplace friendships are established, developed and organised, whilst considering the effects of organisational contexts upon friendship processes. A detailed investigation of the links between friendship, sexuality, gender and intimacy in the workplace, this book will appeal to scholars of management studies as well as sociologists with interests in gender and sexuality, the sociology of organisations and cultural studies.

    Queer Company

    Biography

    Nickl Rumens, Senior Lecturer, University of Bristol, UK

    'Workplaces are sometimes imagined as stern grey bureaucracies, with employees leaving their real selves at the door. In Queer Company, Nick Rumens shows us that sexuality and friendship are just as much part of work as the MBA and the photocopier. This lovely book tells us a great deal about more than just gay men's friendships, and will be important to anyone interested in the relationship between "public" and "private" lives.' Martin Parker, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, UK 'Queer Company: The Role and Meaning of Friendship in Gay Men's Work Lives insightfully illustrates what a strong sociological approach to studying friendship means. Rumens clearly portrays in rich detail how gay men make friends and construct relationships in the workplace. In so doing, the book establishes the importance of friendship in gay men's lives and the opportunities and obstacles in achieving intimacy and identity in what can often be a challenging social context.' Peter M. Nardi, Pitzer College, USA