Where women work: female-dominated occupations and sectors

In this way, schools become an early organization in which children are not exposed to female leaders. As enrollment rates climbed, the teacher shortage put pressure on school districts to allow older and married women to teach. Between 1923 and 1950, school districts generally dropped the practices of banning married women from teaching. Progress began in urban districts, with rural districts being less likely to allow married women to teach. Female teachers were compelled to do the “dirty work” for a society that did not respect them or allow them to make decisions.

New women’s organizations sprouted up working to reform and protect women in the workplace. The largest and most prestigious of these organizations was the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC), whose members were conservative middle-class housewives. The International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) was formed after women shirtwaist makers went on strike in New York City in 1909. It started as a small walkout, with a handful of members from one shop and grew to a force of ten of thousands, changing the course of the labor movement forever. In 1910 women allied themselves with the Progressive Party who sought to reform social issues.

Men in Traditionally Pink Collar Jobs

On the flip side are the primary sector, or higher-value jobs, traditionally seen as masculine jobs. Historically held by men, blue-collar jobs encompass physical labor such as construction or power-holding jobs such as managers and executives. The term “blue collar” has shifted meaning over the past few decades to include any hourly wage-based working class or manual position. Education institutions can unknowingly steer gendered behavior and norms, leading to particular job choices.

What is a pink collar profession?

This involves using gender-neutral language in job descriptions and focusing on skills over experience. Employers can attract a diverse workforce to pink collar jobs by implementing broad recruitment strategies and inclusive workplace policies. One aspect of pink collar jobs is their tendency to provide essential services to the public, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding. Despite the valuable contributions they bring, these positions often experience wage gaps and limiting promotional opportunities.

The combination of the lack of attractive male jobs and new female jobs brought a good number of men into the teaching force, which had become almost all female. “The percentage of male teachers increased quickly, climbing to 25% by 1940, leveling off through the 1960s, and reaching nearly 30 percent in 1970, a percentage higher than at any time since 1890” (Sedlak and Schlossman, p. 27). As in the late 1800s, the women in teaching were affected by male employment trends and other women’s opportunities. Another element contributing to the stereotypes surrounding pink collar jobs is their historically lower wages. Due to pay inequity and gender wage gaps, pink collar jobs have often been seen as less reputable and financially rewarding careers.

2 Gender Socialization in the Workplace

This type of bias can influence individuals’ career choices, and perpetuate the underrepresentation of men in these fields. The gender division in pink collar jobs has led to a lack of diversity and inclusion in these industries. In many cases, men tend to be underrepresented, particularly in fields like caregiving and nursing. This underrepresentation of men may contribute to negative attitudes towards these roles, with some men feeling discouraged from pursuing such careers due to societal expectations. Industrialization, the availability of other jobs, and the perception of education affected the degree to which teaching became feminized.

Breaking boundaries for women in STEM

It serves as a reminder of the challenges women face in the labor market and the need for societal and structural changes to break through this ghetto. The term ‘pink ghetto’ defines jobs primarily occupied by women that are frequently stressful, underpaid, and offer limited career progression. This metaphorical jobs that have been feminized, such as teaching or secretarial work, are also referred to as ghetto symbolizes the barriers to career advancement and security faced by female workers.

1. Teaching is still a relatively low-paid occupation that brings little respect to teachers.
2. This involves using gender-neutral language in job descriptions and focusing on skills over experience.
3. The emergence of pink collar jobs can be traced back to World War I. During this time, women were called upon to fill positions left vacant by men who were drafted into the military.
4. More recently, in 2013, the United States military allowed women to serve in previously closed combat designations.

Notably, only about one-fifth of managing directors and chief executives are women. These findings reflect not just a gap in numbers but, more importantly, in opportunities, empowerment, and perceptions. The late 1800s were the crucial period in which primary and secondary teaching became a woman’s occupation. Between 1850 and 1900, the major changes in the United States were increased western expansion, immigration, and industrialization.