Through Women’s Eyes. Conference Interpreters’ Self-Perceived Status in a Gendered Perspective

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse the differences between female and male conference interpreters’ self-perceived status. Several studies (Angelelli 2004; Katan 2011; Zwischenberger 2011) indicate that women make up most of the professionals working in the translational professions, but little academic attention has been devoted to the question as to whether female and male interpreters have different attitudes towards their profession and their self-perceived status. Sociological studies on feminised professions suggest that women are generally underestimated in the workplace, which leads to them to perceive their status as lower compared to their male colleagues (Cortina/San Román 2006). To test whether this phenomenon was experienced by conference interpreters as well, the responses of a world survey (n = 805) were analysed, with a special focus on interpreters’ self-perception of the status, prestige and social value of their profession. The results showed that, when asked to evaluate their self-perceived status, there were hardly any differences between the scores obtained by female and male interpreters. However, major differences emerged when men and women expressed their opinions on the way they think their work is seen by laypeople, showing that female interpreters perceive their status as far lower than their male counterparts do.

Haken conference interpreters in Japan: Exploring status through the sociology of work and of professions

“…This probably caused a shift in the gender composition of interpreting, given its nature as a temporary occupation at odds with rising ideals of Japanese working masculinity, but meeting women’s aspirations of flexibility. In contrast with Gentile’s (2018) study results where female interpreters bear the most pessimistic societal acknowledgement of status, Japanese female interpreters seemed to suffer slightly less negative status than men, because in Japan interpreting is an appropriate temporary, “caring” work for women catering clients’ linguistic needs. However, it remains mostly undesirable for any workers other than women, who are already pushed to the margins of employment.…”

“…Interpreting scholars have warned about the impact of this gender imbalance on interpreter status, and more generally on the prestige of the profession (Angelelli, 2004). A study carried out by Gentile (2018), which analyses male and female conference interpreters' perception of their status, shows that women feel their status is less valued by lay people, because gender stereotypes become a qualifier for low prestige and recognition. In their exploration of stereotypes in translational occupations, Shlesinger et al (2019) explain that interpreter status is challenged on multiple grounds.…”