Dear Commons Community,

The New York Times has a lead article today on the increase in the number of men who are seeking jobs traditionally held by women.  Citing as examples, dental technicians, elementary school  teachers and nurses, the article suggests that the tough economy is pushing men into these women-dominated fields.

“ young men have come of age in a world of inverted expectations, where women far outpace men in earning degrees and tend to hold jobs that have turned out to be, by and large, more stable, more difficult to outsource, and more likely to grow…

While women continue to make inroads into prestigious, high-wage professions dominated by men, more men are reaching for the dream in female-dominated occupations that their fathers might never have considered.

The trend began well before the crash, and appears to be driven by a variety of factors, including financial concerns, quality-of-life issues and a gradual erosion of gender stereotypes. An analysis of census data by The New York Times shows that from 2000 to 2010, occupations that are more than 70 percent female accounted for almost a third of all job growth for men, double the share of the previous decade.”

For the overall health of gender relationships, this is a good thing.

Tony