Occupational Segregation

Occupational segregation is a two fold issue that will continue to self perpetuate until enough people change.  When referring to gender occupational segregation, many men and women self select careers that they think will be a good fit for them.  There are many reasons for this.  One reason is the examples that people have seen growing up and in their lifetime.  For example, many teachers have historically been women.  When little girls are growing up, they may think that teaching could be a profession for them to choose.  Boys may be less likely to want to become a teacher, because there are not as many male teachers as there are female.

Although stereotypes are changing - in our culture, as well as many others, we think of and are taught that certain jobs are for certain people because they historically always have been.  When we, as a society picture a firefighter, we generally think of a man.  When we think of a secretary, we tend to think it will be a woman. 

The other reason occupational segregation exists is because is because those stereotypes of which jobs are for which people is in the hearts and minds of hiring manager and upper management.  Men and women are not on the same playing field because they are judged differently.

Only when women, as well as minorities, are treated equally by employers, women and minorities are promoted to higher levels, and more men and women have the courage to take jobs outside their traditional gendered careers will occupational segregation cease to become a problem.

When I used to work at a retail store, almost all of the store managers and district managers were men. I would like to say I haven’t limited myself to sex segregated career paths, but I have worked in retail and as a secretary.  I have thought of being a school teacher.  These are mostly female dominated work fields.

I do think that many men and women think about potential jobs that are typical for their gender.  Many men and women who step outside of their typically gendered careers face opposition and criticism, especially if they are some of the first pioneers to do so.