Gonzalez 1

Tracy Gonzalez
Professor Ditch
English 113 A
24 October 2015
Men and Womens Traditional Jobs are Devalued
Since the early 1900s, men have been the dominant gender in the workforce, and were
responsible for being the breadwinner of the family. In this day in age workplace discrimination
has changed into a better workplace structure for both men and women. Masculine jobs are like
policer officers, firefighters, and engineers. Feminine jobs are like caretakers, nurses, and maids.
However, gender discrimination has not changed much because it is still viewed generally that
men have the usual masculine job and women work in a feminine job. People generally criticize
both women and men that are in traditional jobs, because it is viewed that a real man has a
masculine job and women are judged for working and not following the feminine role of a stayat-home mom. I argue that men and women are subjected to follow traditional workforce rules
because its hard to change the traditional views of society believing that traditional work should
be filled based on gender roles: such as men fill masculine jobs and women feminine jobs. I will
describe a drawing that highlights my argument about how society influences others to criticize
ones work-life in a stereotypical way. Then I will explain stereotypical jobs for both sexes, I will
point out all the counter arguments possible flaws, and how it shows its appeal for change.
Lastly, I will introduce why people are afraid of going against social norms for jobs and how it
leads to fighting for equality.

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The drawing I created introduces a 2015 era where two males and two females are
located in a fashion studio. In the left, there is man #1 wearing a pink shirt who is putting makeup on woman #1. Woman #1 is wearing a mechanic suit and is chatting with man #1 about life at
work. While Man #2 who looks like a business man is sitting next to a chair that has a tool box
and Woman #2 who is wearing a feminine dress. Man#2 and woman#2 are shocked by both
character#1 appearances and career choice. First, woman #1 questioned Is she a mechanic?
while Man #2 answered Yes, but that man is a make-up artist. How disgraceful! This scenario
represents how peoples expectations are biased, they criticize others lifestyle by implying that
this behavior is out of the ordinary. The word ordinary means being normal, this is the way
society and people are familiar with this typical idea. The fact people believe it is a standard rule
we must all follow proves that, The gendered practices of everyday life reproduce a societys
view of how women and men should act. (Lorber 26). Although focusing on societys
expectations is generally the same of peoples expectations, the idea of addressing the issue,
understanding it, and acknowledging it can help make sense of it all.
Some would say that not all people discriminate men and women based on traditional
jobs. It is completely optional for anyone to associate with the idea of judging a person in order
to make them see their wrongdoings. The government is making this personal issue a rule to
follow. I believe it is true that people can choose their own ideas, but degrading a person is
deplorable! Like Devor said As we move through our lives, society demands different gender
performances from us and rewards, tolerates, or punishes us differently for conformity to, or
digression from social norms (35). There are different possibilities reasons to understand what
the problem is, why people want equality. Equality in one way is like saying that women are

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equal to men if they are doing the same work that men have traditionally done. The #2 characters
in the drawing cant understand that they are degrading their jobs due to their sex and gender.
This situation isnt a gender revolution. Imagine for a moment, that women do work for a
change, they are equal, but if they show any emotion then they will be devalued just like men.
This can follow a sexist point of view, but try to understand what traditional jobs are like for both
sexes. Mens jobs are for example: technicians, doctors, home appliance repairers, electricians,
tower operators, and mechanics. For women, a traditional jobs are dental assistants, hairdressers,
receptionist, child care workers, secretaries, nurses, kindergarten teachers, and housewives. For
example, a man working in as an engineer would be seen as a typical masculine job versus a man
having babysitting job would be seen as too feminine. If you look at womens work position
she can easily be seen as a nurse, but if she holds a masculine position such as an electrician,
people automatically think that it is not a womans job.
Women have been viewed to be stay-at-home wives for several decades, which has now
changed dramatically. More and more women are choosing to work rather than staying at home
and doing the duties of a traditional housewife because women realize they can provide for
themselves. When women became housewives at the time, they relied on their husbands, had
limited rules, and couldnt afford to take risks. Why, because the husband provides for his family,
it wasnt normal for woman to have a job, and all their property belongs to the husband. This
demonstrates gender inequality because it focuses on the devaluation of women and the social
domination of men-(Lorber 30). Considering the fact that women are more prone to work
than being housewives, it hasnt been an easy journey for them because of gender discrimination.
The possibility that both men and women are doing the same type of work are usually
segregated to maintain gender separation. One major example is Jenson v. Eveleth Taconite

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Company 686o, In August 1988, Lois Jenson and Patricia Kosmach filed a class action suit
against Eveleth Mines1 alleging sex discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964 (Title VII). The woman that worked in the factory were segregated from the men in
various field work in the factories. They were chastised, humiliated, sexually harassed, and
pushed to limits for having a working position in a working field where men were the dominate
workers, and females were believed to not be able to handle the job.
Men in their jobs are meant to show masculinity, emphasize power, and viewed as a
dominant figure. If they transition to a feminine job then men will begin to be persecuted,
threatened, and discriminated from men. In a womans view, she may not see him as a masculine
man. For women in a general job maintains an essence of femininity, they appear fragile, and
viewed as incapable of maintaining power. A woman will be shunned by population if they
display any masculine behavior and seen as unladylike. I am not saying there is a huge difference
when it comes to women in a feminine job or masculine job, but no matter what kind of job they
have it will not change the fact that they are facing sexual harassment. In feminine jobs there is
not so much harassment, but in masculine jobs, women are both harassed and badgered. This is a
representation of gender discrimination in a workplace.
This is a reason why people are aware, scared, and unsure of what type of work he/she
should do, because they feel pressured of assimilating into societys way of being discriminated.
I would fear it myself, but noticing the changes in the world can also influence the media.
However, social media wont update the news unless it makes a story, and the chances for it to
make a difference can be slim. The drawing represented how people still criticize, consciously or
sub-consciously. This doesnt refrain from others following the general idea that men and women
are only allowed to do certain jobs. For example, in an ABC News article More men take

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traditional jobs than women, abbreviates about the getting the Funny Look. John Snedegar, a
registered nurse at Charleston Area Medical Center who used to be a U.S. soldier. He said You
go in, in your scrubs, and they think, Hey the doctors here, and ends by mentioning And
when they find out youre the nurse, you know, you get the funny look. This further confirms
that it doesnt just have to be verbal criticisms, but through a persons expression it can show the
stereotypical judging, which speaks volumes. John knows his identity and wants to consider the
idea of I try to think that, I like to think, I'm a manly kind of man." This is similar to the
drawing on how man #2 believe it is wrong for man#1 to be a make-up artist while showing a
disappointing face.
People stereotypically categorize a male hair dresser to be a homosexual because men are
considered to hold masculine jobs. It is the same idea towards women who obtains any
masculine positions will end up viewed as an un-proper lady and lose attraction to men. For
example, women who hold a CEO position have a harder time with men because they are
intimidated by the position they hold. People should stop castigating other peoples lifestyle,
because it will be seen as an improper act. Identifying this dilemma supports the fight for
freedom in order to preserve a positive change. More importantly, if we can evolve from this
social norm then people wouldnt feel pressured, feared, controlled, and forcibly subjected to a
certain lifestyle.
The workplace structure has changed to better serve both women and men. Although, it
still has not been easy for both men and women when it comes to gender discrimination in the
workplace, because of societys traditional views. For men it mostly mattered if they showed
anything that is feminine while women who has any masculine job and fail to portray as a proper
lady will be judged. Just showing how men and women are easily discriminated and sexually

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harassed the moment they reveal what they do proves how irrational people can be. There should
not be anything that controls a persons life nor tell them exactly what he/she should do for a
living. The problem is not just society, but people overall. Realize that traditional jobs are for
both men and women, because equality in the workplace is high in demand.

Works Cited

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Bourin, Lenny, href, http, abcnews.go.com, sections, worldnewstonight,

blakemore_bill_bio.html, and Bill Blakemore. More Men Take Traditionally Female
Jobs. ABC News. ABC News Network, 01 Sept. 2015 Web. 01 Nov. 2015.
Devor, Aaron Becoming Members of Society: The Social Meanings of Gender Composing
Gender. A Bedford Spotlight Reader. Eds. Racheal, Grover and John F. Ohara.
Boston/St. Martins 2014. 35-43 Print.
JENSON v. EVELETH TACONITE COMPANY 6860 NOW. "FindLaw's United States Eighth
Circuit Case and Opinions." Findlaw. NP, 05 Dec. 1997. Web. 02 Nov. 2015.
Lorber, Judith. Night to His Day: The Social Construction of Gender Composing Gender. A
Bedford Spotlight Reader. Eds. Racheal, Grover and John F. Ohara. Boston/St. Martins
2014. 19-30 Print.