How does food delivery work become masculinised? Frontline supervisors enact their gendered beliefs in recruiting desirable male workers. They deliberately retain poorer workers whose dependence on income is greater, thereby minimising labour turnover to generate more profits. Delivery drivers
compete for economic and symbolic rewards and, by extension, for the markers of masculine success. A few driver-breadwinners are considered successful based on their ability to make money, while many others are deemed ‘failures’ and ‘less-worthy men’ by both managers and fellow workers. In this essay, we highlight the implications for gender equity and decent work in the platform economy.
Zhang, Zihao and Jenny Chan. 2026. “Gendered Organisation of Platform Food Delivery Work in China.” Made in China Journal 10(2): 252-57.
Dying for an iPhone 