There is no scientific basis for the stereotype that men are inherently less capable of working in certain industries or that men and women are naturally inclined towards different career paths.
Both men and women may be discouraged from pursuing certain careers due to gender bias, which is a valid concern.
A new study published by the American Psychological Association says that men may be less likely to pursue careers in early education and some other traditionally female-dominated fields due to gender bias against men in these industries.
Previous research has shown that there is bias against men in the health care, early education, and domestic (HEED) fields. The goal of this study was to find out how much of an effect this bias has.
An experiment involving 296 online participants from the United States was conducted to test the effect of gender bias on career choices.
One group read an article about research that found educators preferred a female elementary school teacher applicant over a male applicant with the same qualifications.
There was also a control group that didn’t read any articles and a group that read one that asserted gender equality in kindergarten through third grade.
Men in the group who read about male gender prejudice predicted more discrimination in early primary education, felt less favorable about the area, and had less interest in pursuing a career there. Women who took part were not affected, and their responses were the same across all groups.
Similar results were shown in an experiment with 275 Skidmore College students. The study was published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied online.
Lead researcher Corinne Moss-Racusin, an associate professor of psychology at Skidmore College, pointed out that while the issue of gender bias against women in STEM fields has received significant attention, male gender bias in HEED (health, education, and human services) careers has largely been ignored, despite also having negative consequences.
“It’s a detriment to society if we keep slotting people into gendered roles and stay the course on gender-segregated career paths, regardless of whether those jobs are traditionally associated with women or men,” she adds. “That’s a powerful way of reinforcing the traditional gender status quo.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, men make up just 13% of registered nurses and only 3% of preschool and kindergarten educators in the country. According to earlier studies, male nurses experienced more bullying at work than female nurses. Early elementary school teachers who identify as male face more prejudice and are less likely to be hired than their female counterparts.
Moss-Racusin said that the preconception that women are more compassionate and naturally suited for specific care-oriented occupations is rooted in traditional ideas of parenting and hinders men’s access to such careers.
“There’s no evidence that men are biologically incapable of doing this work or that men and women are naturally oriented toward different careers,” she adds. “Both men and women are deterred by gender biases they may face in different industries, which is understandable.”
According to lead researcher Corinne Moss-Racusin, men may also be discouraged from pursuing careers in the HEED (health, education, and human services) fields due to the low pay often associated with these industries. This low pay may be linked to discrimination against women and the devaluation of work traditionally associated with them.
She said that more recruiting and mentoring of men in HEED fields could help get rid of gender bias and encourage more men to work in these areas.
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