# Stereotypical Gender Occupations **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 20, 2014, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041 "2014-08-20T21:30:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041/21 "2014-08-21T14:50:11Z")
Mechanical engineering is still a barren wasteland devoid of females for the most part. True there are a lot more than there used to be (like 1 out 200 when I started) but they generally don’t stay in a strictly engineering geek type job; mostly they get promoted up pretty fast to management in order to give the illusion of diversity in the workforce. Granted many of them are very talented since they have had to learn to compete in a male dominated workplace environment and have been pursued and coveted by males throughout college and on. And the ones who are successful tend to be labels as hard nosed bitches or as having gotten to where they are based upon looks; I can understand why many women shy away from the career path unless they truly have a passion and a talent for it. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041/22 "2014-08-21T15:20:52Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Mechanical engineering is still a barren wasteland devoid of females for the most part. True there are a lot more than there used to be (like 1 out 200 when I started) but they generally don’t stay in a strictly engineering geek type job; mostly they get promoted up pretty fast to management in order to give the illusion of diversity in the workforce. Granted many of them are very talented since they have had to learn to compete in a male dominated workplace environment and have been pursued and coveted by males throughout college and on. And the ones who are successful tend to be labels as hard nosed bitches or as having gotten to where they are based upon looks; I can understand why many women shy away from the career path unless they truly have a passion and a talent for it. My experience differs from yours. While women in engineering were scarce years ago there is a flood of them entering the field today. The ME’s EEs CEs etc I’ve known for the past 30 years were not hard nosed bitches and didn’t have much problem with the good-ol-boy network. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041/23 "2014-08-21T15:57:02Z")
I’m sure there are some, but I’ve never seen a GarbageWoman. Or would you call her a Woman Garbageman? Lady Garbage? 😕 Garbageperson just won’t work for _anybody_. At least not to describe their job. ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041/24 "2014-08-21T17:03:35Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I’m sure there are some, but I’ve never seen a GarbageWoman. Or would you call her a Woman Garbageman? Lady Garbage? 😕 > > Garbageperson just won’t work for _anybody_. At least not to describe their job. Didn’t they get around that by changing the title to refuse collector? That’s those who collect refuse, not a summation of my dating history. ---
**Author:** ![Kelby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a587f6/32.png) [@Kelby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelby)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041/25 "2014-08-21T17:09:15Z")
Administrative assistants/secretaries? Anybody ever know a male one? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041/26 "2014-08-21T17:13:13Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > I’ve had two male dental assistants in 24 years of practice and probably on the order of 50 female ones. This in multiple office I’ve been in not just my own practice. > > Met one male hygienist. How many male dental assistants have you _interviewed_ (assuming you hire your own staff)? > [@BubbaDog](#): > > My experience differs from yours. While women in engineering were scarce years ago there is a flood of them entering the field today. The ME’s EEs CEs etc I’ve known for the past 30 years were not hard nosed bitches and didn’t have much problem with the good-ol-boy network. I know four mechanical engineers; two men and two women. They’re married to each other (the two men are each married to one of the women, that is). Make of that what you will. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041/27 "2014-08-21T17:48:05Z")
> [@Kelby](#): > > Administrative assistants/secretaries? > > Anybody ever know a male one? I had one. Guy was good. He once called me during a blizzard in Denver. I was standing in line to get my boarding pass. My phone rings and he’s on the line telling me that he booked me a room in the nearest motel since the airport was closed. I said, It’s not closed." But before I finished that sentence every flight display in front of me went from active to “cancelled”. How he knew about the closing and managed to score a room before anybody in the airport knew it is beyond my understanding. ---
**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:** [August 21, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041/28 "2014-08-21T17:52:18Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > How he knew about the closing and managed to score a room before anybody in the airport knew it is beyond my understanding. Devil pact. When in doubt, it’s always a devil pact. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041/29 "2014-08-21T17:55:03Z")
A dental hygenist will often have her crotch pressed tightly against my knee, I would be very uncomfortable if a male were pressing his crotch against my knee. Other males may feel the same way and possibly female patients are not as sensitive about this. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041/30 "2014-08-21T17:59:21Z")
Against your _knee_? Where is your species’ mouth located? Anyway, a dentist or surgeon is likely to have his crotch pressed against you from time to time, too. Are you uncomfortable with male dentists? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041/31 "2014-08-21T18:44:18Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Against your _knee_? Where is your species’ mouth located? > > Anyway, a dentist or surgeon is likely to have his crotch pressed against you from time to time, too. Are you uncomfortable with male dentists? Don’t know about surgeons, but my dentist sees me for about a minute per semi-annual visit, with the only contact being a handshake. 🙂 The hygenist does all the work. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041/32 "2014-08-21T19:02:17Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > I’ve never seen a woman framer, though there’s women who are finish carpenters. > … Woman framers are unusual but not unheard of. I know of one that works on a family crew, and my son has worked with a couple others. We have a couple women at work that come in as casual labourers. Women are few and far between in the construction trades in general. Engineers, draftpersons and other professionals are often women but few actual tradespeople. Attitudes have changed and I think the modern residential construction site would be quite welcoming to women. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041/33 "2014-08-21T21:17:07Z")
> [@Kelby](#): > > Administrative assistants/secretaries? > > Anybody ever know a male one? Yes, there is one in my office (math. dept., McGill). Many years earlier the administrative assistant/office manager (female) refused to hire a male secretary because it somehow offended her, but then, maybe 10 years ago, she did. Nowadays, the secretaries do almost no typing, but have various administrative jobs. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041/34 "2014-08-21T21:25:54Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > A dental hygenist will often have her crotch pressed tightly against my knee… :dubious: I don’t think that is a common experience while getting one’s teeth cleaned. Are you sure she isn’t just into you? ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041/35 "2014-08-21T21:44:23Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > :dubious: > > I don’t think that is a common experience while getting one’s teeth cleaned. Are you sure she isn’t just into you? Not so much into me but I have suspected that some of them have found a way to tease themselves, men have a strong tendency not to draw their knee back when something feels good against it. I have often suspected they are getting something out of it. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041/36 "2014-08-22T00:27:07Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > A dental hygenist will often have her crotch pressed tightly against my knee, I would be very uncomfortable if a male were pressing his crotch against my knee. Other males may feel the same way and possibly female patients are not as sensitive about this. As much as I try I can’t picture how a hygienist would have her crotch against your knee. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041/37 "2014-08-22T00:35:36Z")
The only male dental hygienist I’ve encountered was in the USAF. This was early 1980s. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041/38 "2014-08-22T00:37:51Z")
I need to go to the Dentist. I’d say “more often”, but I don’t go at all now. ---
**Author:** ![sunstone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunstone/32/3372_2.png) [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041/39 "2014-08-22T02:26:00Z")
I have two friends who are retired engineers. The woman is an electrical engineer, and the man is a retired systems engineer. The common factor that they share is that they are into a “fact based view of the world”. Both are competent in nearly aspect of living well, and contributing to society. I especially enjoy them in that I share a history of working on air to air missiles with the lady, and very much find the guy a delight to work with on various projects, as his ideas of how to proceed are very much my own…we can work on 'building things" almost without talking, as we both anticipate each step the same ways. Interesting folks. BTW, I am an ex military officer and retired science teacher, so the two occupations seem to span across the gender occupation selection spectrum. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041/40 "2014-08-22T08:56:55Z")
I have never heard of a female executioner. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypical-gender-occupations/696041.md?page=3)