Still a Man's World

Men Who Do Women's Work

Christine L. Williams

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English

University of California Press
09 February 1995

Gender studies, gender groups; Sociology: work & labour

Series: Men and Masculinity

Men who do ""women's work"" have consistently been the butt of jokes, derided for their lack of drive and masculinity. In this eye-opening study, Christine Williams provides a wholly new look at men who work in predominantly female jobs. Having conducted extensive interviews in four cities, Williams uncovers how men in four occupations-nursing, elementary school teaching, librarianship, and social work-think about themselves and experience their work.

Contrary to popular imagery, men in traditionally female occupations do not define themselves differently from men in more traditional occupations. Williams finds that most embrace conventional, masculine values. Her findings about how these men fare in their jobs are also counterintuitive. Rather than being surpassed by the larger number of women around them, these men experience the ""glass escalator effect,"" rising in disproportionate numbers to administrative jobs at the top of their professions. Williams finds that a complex interplay between gendered expectations embedded in organizations, and the socially determined ideas workers bring to their jobs, contribute to mens' advantages in these occupations.

Using a feminist psychoanalytic perspective, Williams calls for more men not only to cross over to women's occupations, but also to develop alternative masculinities that find common ground with traditionally female norms of cooperation and caring. Until the workplace is sexually integrated and masculine and feminine norms equally valued, it will unfortunately remain ""still a man's world.""

By: Christine L. Williams
Imprint: University of California Press
Country of Publication: United States
Volume: 1
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 15mm
Weight: 318g
ISBN: 9780520087873
ISBN 10: 0520087879
Series: Men and Masculinity
Pages: 243
Publication Date: 09 February 1995
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

"List of Tables Acknowledgments 1. Gendered Jobs and Gendered Workers 2. The Rise and Fall of the ""Women's Professions"" 3. An Unconventional Career Choice 4. Token Men in Training 5. Riding the Glass Escalator 6. Masculinity in ""Feminine"" Occupations 7. Occupational Segregation and Gender Inequality 8. Conclusion Methodological Appendix Notes Bibliography Index"

Christine L. Williams is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Texas, Austin and author of Gender Differences at Work (California, 1989).

Reviews for Still a Man's World: Men Who Do Women's Work

""A wide-ranging and intelligent discussion of the meaning and importance of men's employment in the 'women's' professions."" * American Journal of Sociology * ""Still a Man's World gives us. a fascinating account of what happens when men become social workers, elementary school teachers, nurses, and librarians. Christine Williams conducted in-depth interviews with 76 men who work in these predominantly female professions."" * Social Forces * ""Williams has written an unflinching and compelling analysis of great lucidity, and in this reader's opinion it should be required reading in professional programs and discussed widely by practitioners in these fields."" * Libraries & Culture * ""This well-researched qualitative study of men in social work, librarianship, teaching, and nursing will be welcome reading to anyone with a serious interest in the study of librarianship and gender. Even though its focus is not exclusively on librarianship, it appears . . . as one of the few recent efforts focusing on men in this female-intensive field."" * Library Quarterly: Information, Community, Policy *