# Fields that are dominated by one sex that greatly need an influx of the other. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 12, 2007, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fields-that-are-dominated-by-one-sex-that-greatly-need-an-influx-of-the-other/407763 "2007-06-12T20:33:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fields-that-are-dominated-by-one-sex-that-greatly-need-an-influx-of-the-other/407763/61 "2007-06-14T06:29:26Z")
[QUOTE=Justin\_Bailey] My system used to use a similar program to Ask A Librarian a few years ago (it may have even been the same program), but it was dropped because no one wanted to use strange chat software to talk to a librarian. I think centering it around AIM (nearly every Internet user at least has an AIM name) could bring in a lot of curious people and (librarian’s love this) teens. [/QUOTE] With us, the chat software is built into our website, so nobody has to download anything scary or unfamiliar. We actually have very good statistics, and a huge percentage of satisfied patrons that come back multiple times (for different questions, luckily). Lots of high school and college students seek us out, and not just for school-related help, which is good. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fields-that-are-dominated-by-one-sex-that-greatly-need-an-influx-of-the-other/407763/62 "2007-06-14T06:50:41Z")
[QUOTE=Crescend] Fun fact: in Russian, the word for ‘nurse’ is “медицинская сестра”, literally “medical sister.” Men can work with a feminine title, but nobody is going to call the 250lb combat medic ‘sister’. So they get called “medical brothers” instead. [/QUOTE] In Russia, brothers nurse you! Lots of room for more male nurses, not sure if the profession would be “improved.” ---
**Author:** ![Shawn1767](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shawn1767](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shawn1767)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fields-that-are-dominated-by-one-sex-that-greatly-need-an-influx-of-the-other/407763/63 "2007-06-14T06:56:03Z")
**Originally posted by tvvat** > [@](#): > > I reckon it’s the interaction and (relative) complexity of a highschool mind that draws me. To be honest, anything much below grade four has been more like babysitting that teaching in my opinion. I disagree. In the younger grades, you are actually teaching them to read and the skills they will need in order to have those complex minds when they reach high school. By the time they reach high school, they will pretty much already have their attitudes toward education. I find it better to help them develop critical thinking skills and to excite their desire for learning at a much younger age. And to call anything below grade 4 “babysitting” is glossing things over. Think how easy it would be to give an assignment to a high schooler to read a selection in their science books when they didn’t learn how to read in 1st or 2nd grade. You are taking a skill they know little or nothing about and helping them master it when they are 6 or 7 years old. The complex high school minds you speak of developed during those years. That’s when the groundwork was done. Actually, I think it more challenging to teach the somewhat “blank slates” in elementary school than the well-prepared minds the high school teachers will get. Sometimes elementary school prepares students poorly, but that’s why we need good teachers in elementary schools and not people writing them off as “babysitting” years. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fields-that-are-dominated-by-one-sex-that-greatly-need-an-influx-of-the-other/407763/64 "2007-06-14T11:00:51Z")
[QUOTE=Johanna] The Dope has already “been there, done that” and I doubt anyone wants to re-open that issue. [/QUOTE] As much to the point, I doubt TPTB want to see another 45-coach “womansperm” trainwreck. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fields-that-are-dominated-by-one-sex-that-greatly-need-an-influx-of-the-other/407763/65 "2007-06-14T13:55:08Z")
Yep, I hearily seconde (or third, or whatever) child care and elementary education. I agree with the need for male teachers in older grades, when god knows many boys need more positive male role models and mentors, but the shortage there is not quite as acute as it is at lower levels. When my son started daycare at a center, I was THRILLED when he had a guy in his first classroom. I wanted my son to get additional confirmation that child care was not “women’s work.” ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fields-that-are-dominated-by-one-sex-that-greatly-need-an-influx-of-the-other/407763/66 "2007-06-14T14:04:40Z")
(and now having read replies above) As for the “elementary school is too much like babysitting” sentiment…this is a bit off-topic but I wanted to address it because I was just talking about this very issue yesterday with my boss. I do understand that feeling. It’s easy to slip into that thinking, that anyone could do the job if they just had the patience for the kids. I have even been guilty of that even though I pride myself on being respectful of the teaching profession. But this year my son started to have some issues with writing, and working with his school on that gave me an awestruck appreciation for how much expertise his teachers had, and how much careful consideration goes into thinking about various forms of social and intellectual development, learning styles, the interplay of motor skills, sequencing, recall… His teachers knew a LOT about learning and how to apply that knowledge when teaching a classroom full of squirmy 2nd graders. You don’t always see it (it may look like babysitting) but with a great teacher, there is so much more going on. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fields-that-are-dominated-by-one-sex-that-greatly-need-an-influx-of-the-other/407763/67 "2007-06-14T16:02:07Z")
Ditto again on having more men in childcare, teaching and similar mentoring roles. I’d like to see more women in rock music. Not little pop divas like Britney Spears, but actual rock. Lead guitar, drums, bass. I saw Joseph Arthur about a month ago and his lead guitarist and bassist were both women, and it made me realize how seldom I see even one female onstage who’s not a backing vocalist. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fields-that-are-dominated-by-one-sex-that-greatly-need-an-influx-of-the-other/407763/68 "2007-06-14T23:53:10Z")
[QUOTE=Haunted] Gaming. [/QUOTE] I see your gaming and raise you game development, particularly game programming. Of course, I might just be saying that because I’m sick of not having female coworkers to inappropriately flirt with. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fields-that-are-dominated-by-one-sex-that-greatly-need-an-influx-of-the-other/407763/69 "2007-06-16T20:39:51Z")
[QUOTE=Spectre of Pithecanthropus] He’s got a point. I _went_ to library school, and was one of about four guys in my class of 60 or so. As for his other assertions, see my other post, _supra_. [/QUOTE] My issue wasn’t with his assertion that not enough librarians are men, it’s his characterization of women librarians. ---
**Author:** ![Haunted](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/898d66/32.png) [@Haunted](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haunted)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fields-that-are-dominated-by-one-sex-that-greatly-need-an-influx-of-the-other/407763/70 "2007-06-16T20:48:16Z")
> [@](#): > > I see your gaming and raise you game development, particularly game programming. That’s actually what I meant, **Max**. I’m glad you feel the same way. Even if it might be for a different reason. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fields-that-are-dominated-by-one-sex-that-greatly-need-an-influx-of-the-other/407763/71 "2007-06-16T21:58:29Z")
[QUOTE=Sarahfeena] My issue wasn’t with his assertion that not enough librarians are men, it’s his characterization of women librarians. [/QUOTE] While I think **VC03** is slightly off the mark with all of his “namby-pamby” talk, I’ve met enough (mostly older) female librarians to know they are causing a negative effect on collection development. Stuff like “that rap music” or “those disgusting stories with all the blood” get pushed aside for the 8th copy of the latest Danielle Steel book. It’s frustrating. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fields-that-are-dominated-by-one-sex-that-greatly-need-an-influx-of-the-other/407763/72 "2007-06-16T22:36:00Z")
[QUOTE=Beadalin] I’d like to see more women in rock music. Not little pop divas like Britney Spears, but actual rock. Lead guitar, drums, bass. I saw Joseph Arthur about a month ago and his lead guitarist and bassist were both women, and it made me realize how seldom I see even one female onstage who’s not a backing vocalist. [/QUOTE] As much of a boys’ club as rock is, jazz is a lot worse. It may be the most politically liberal arts community that’s still sex-segregated. Women jazz players still find most prominence as solo acts or in all-female groups, 70+ years after cracking the field. The traditional status quo argument is that jazz is a very rough business. My response is that that’s probably because it’s too male-dominated. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fields-that-are-dominated-by-one-sex-that-greatly-need-an-influx-of-the-other/407763/73 "2007-06-17T03:58:29Z")
[QUOTE=Justin\_Bailey] While I think **VC03** is slightly off the mark with all of his “namby-pamby” talk, I’ve met enough (mostly older) female librarians to know they are causing a negative effect on collection development. Stuff like “that rap music” or “those disgusting stories with all the blood” get pushed aside for the 8th copy of the latest Danielle Steel book. It’s frustrating. [/QUOTE] Quoted for truth. –Lou, who is taking Collection Development this summer. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fields-that-are-dominated-by-one-sex-that-greatly-need-an-influx-of-the-other/407763/74 "2007-06-18T07:19:34Z")
May I interrupt for just a moment, please? I would be very grateful if people stopped using women as an adjective. It is a noun. You wouldn’t say men librarians or men doctors, would you? So why do people feel the need to say women librarians and women doctors? Use the adjective female, DAMMIT! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fields-that-are-dominated-by-one-sex-that-greatly-need-an-influx-of-the-other/407763/75 "2007-06-18T10:35:02Z")
[QUOTE=1920s Style “Death Ray”] More female pilots please. Because they smell nicer. [/QUOTE] 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Flipshod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f19dbf/32.png) [@Flipshod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flipshod)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fields-that-are-dominated-by-one-sex-that-greatly-need-an-influx-of-the-other/407763/76 "2007-06-18T13:58:21Z")
I think nursing is going to have to change its name to get more males. Male nurses have to call themselves “male nurses” because they don’t and can’t lactate. ETA: sorry I see this issue has been addressed. ---
**Author:** ![PuppyEars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@PuppyEars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PuppyEars)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fields-that-are-dominated-by-one-sex-that-greatly-need-an-influx-of-the-other/407763/77 "2007-06-18T14:14:22Z")
A long time lurker and first poster… I’d like to add the issue of income to this discusssion. We appear to be having this debate in the abstract (which in some cases may be of moderate value) but the issue here is not do we need more male teachers or more female doctors but actually that we need to have more salary equality. Society still has (an ever improving) stay-at-home-mother/domestic-activities-are-a-woman’s-job habits and practices. Thus, lower paying jobs (not lower worth jobs) like teaching are often taken by women. I’m not suggesting this is right. In fact, I’d prefer to suggest that I put this out there as a mere spin on this debate (not a hyjack). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fields-that-are-dominated-by-one-sex-that-greatly-need-an-influx-of-the-other/407763.md?page=3)