Women In Non Traditional Occupations

Research tells us of the problems women face when they cross over into male-dominated professions: discrimination, harassment, glass ceilings, exclusion from informal networks. We also know much about female-dominated professions, where pay and prestige are lower than corresponding male professions. What happens to men doing "women′s" jobs? Doing "Women′s Work" represents the first effort to summarize our state of knowledge about the effects of men in "women′s professions," on the men and their views of masculinity, on the occupations, and on the women with whom they work. Do men get preferential treatment in these positions? Higher salaries? Are they treated the same as their female coworkers? Through a series of statistical and demographic analyses as well as qualitative case studies of men in such professions as teaching, secretarial work, caregiving, and stripping, the authors offer an insightful glimpse of the roles of these men in bolstering or undermining the gendered assumptions of occupational sex segregation in the workplace. A fascinating yet scholarly study, Doing "Women′s Work" will be invaluable reading for students, researchers, and professionals interested in gender studies, work and occupations, human resources, sociology, management, human services, family studies, psychology, and education. "The studies lead to a more complex and sophisticated view of occupational segregation. . . . The chapters in Christine Williams′ book are logically arranged, and all are of reasonably good quality." --Contemporary Sociology "The focus on pursuing questions is illustrated most capably by this collection of research on occupational segregation. . . .The book is an excellent collection of essays for those interested in work and gender issues, providing both a rich theoretical background and case studies of men in nontraditional occupations." --Masculinities

This book examines common issues and concepts concerning women in non-traditional, male dominated occupations. It explores the question of whether these women are the agents of change or are instead changed themselves. It provides a statistical examination and theoretical analysis of occupational sex segregation in the UK, the rest of the European Union, and the USA. Then, it provides a more in-depth understanding of women's work lives through the experiences of the women themselves in four occupations; management, academia, engineering and the priesthood.

This study explores the relationship between the nature and context of non-traditional occupations and the empowerment status of women in society. Specifically, it examines the extent to which women in non-traditional occupations have been empowered by their skills, knowledge, and position within the Togolese Government's existing training policies for the increased participation of women in non-traditional sectors of the labor force.