Response #10

Synopsis: Labor and pay are gendered due to the continuance of traditional sexual division of labor.

Traditionally women have worked in fields that cater to their 'nature'. In other words, any job that involves nurturing or caring in some way women have dominated. It is in a man's nature to be strong, handy, and protective so they have traditionally worked as policemen, contractors, farmers. In fact, men have always been seen as the primary bread winners of the family so it is understandable that a sexual division of labor was formed. While men worked the higher paying jobs women took what was left, what was undesirable, or what was considered more 'woman's work'. Now, during more current times, women are working in the fields that used to be off limits to them. There are women doctors, lawyers, scientists, mechanics, mathematicians, and even Nobel prize winners. Men too have entered into fields that previously were female dominated. These fields include nursing, librarianship, elementary school teachers, and social workers. Men working in these fields are actually at an advantage and this is known as 'The Glass Escalator". Men are encouraged to move up while women are encouraged to stay put.

Pay, as well, is gendered. According to Ellen Bravo and Gloria Santa's article, "most women do the same jobs they've always done, and those jobs pay less than comparable jobs done by men." In addition, most jobs that women have are lower paying jobs. Teaching and social work are excellent examples. The pay for both of these jobs is pennies compared to what a businessman or politician makes. Even though women are lawyers and doctors, they tend to work more in family practices and this pays less than other areas of both fields.

The concept of 'the Glass Escalator" interests me. Christine Williams talked about discrimination in hiring in her article. She said that, "...the more female-dominated the specialty, the greater the apparent preference for men". Three different movies come to my mind when I read this quote. Although, these movies do not specifically point to the preference of men in these occupations, I think it helps them to be a bit more accepted by society. These movies are Meet the Parents with Ben Stiller, the television movie The Librarian with Noah Wyle, and The Ron Clark Story with Matthew Perry. In Meet the Parents, Ben's occupation was of a male nurse. There were a few references during the movie that made fun of his occupation or his masculinity due to his occupation. In The Librarian, Noah is a librarian who finds ancient artifiacts that have the power to destroy the world and he ends up having an adventure to save the world. Noah also faces comments about his job as a librarian. Due to the stereotype that librarians, at least male librarians, are weak nerds it is hard to believe that the action hero of this show is indeed a librarian. On my part, at least the libraian is a cute looking nerd :) In addition, there have been movies made about male teachers. Matthew Perry, from the hit series Friends, portrayed a male teacher who taught one of the toughest teachers in Harlem. This is really the only movie that touches on pay. Matthew Perry's character did not teach in Harlem because the money was good. In fact, he took on a second job as a waiter to help support himself. He took the job so he could help children.

*Sorry the pictures won't work for me. I ment to have them in the last paragraph.*