In a recent article, I explored some of the challenges faced by male nurses (and the urgent need to attract more men into the profession). Nursing is not unique in this regard, however, as research from Skidmore College highlights the lower likelihood that men will seek careers in a wide range of fields traditionally associated with women because of gender bias.
The research highlights the bias against men in the healthcare, early education, and domestic (HEED) fields. For instance, male participants in the study were asked to read actual articles suggesting that female elementary school teacher applicants were preferred by schools over male ones, even when their qualifications were the same. A second group read a similar article, but this one suggested there was gender equality in early elementary education.
The results show that those who read about gender bias believed they would be much more likely to face discrimination and a lower sense of belonging. They were also far less interested in pursuing a career in the field.
A lack of attention
The authors highlight that while the gender bias faced by women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields has received considerable attention, the gender bias faced by men in HEED careers has not received anywhere near as much, even though the impact is as considerable, especially given the high growth in the number of jobs in these sectors.
“It’s a detriment to society if we keep slotting people into gendered roles and stay the course on gender-segregated career paths, regardless of whether those jobs are traditionally associated with women or men,” the authors explain. “That’s a powerful way of reinforcing the traditional gender status quo.”
They reveal that just 3% of preschool and kindergarten teachers are men, with just 13% of registered nurses as well. They cite previous research showing that male nurses regularly report higher levels of bullying at work than their female peers, while male elementary teachers report perceptions of being a safety threat to children and generally being less hirable.
The authors suggest these biases stem from traditional views of motherhood that suppose women are more naturally suited to caring professions.
“There’s no evidence that men are biologically incapable of doing this work or that men and women are naturally oriented toward different careers,” they explain. “Both men and women are deterred by gender biases they may face in different industries, which is understandable.”
The relatively low pay often found in HEED roles can also be off-putting, but the researchers believe more work is needed to not only reduce these gender biases but attract men to work in these fields.
