Traditional Jobs For Men And Women And The Gender Divide

by Silicon Valley Blogger on 2007-05-2953

I came across an interesting article in the San Jose Mercury News which tackles the concept of “occupational segregation.” What is it about?

Despite the women’s movement and the changes that occurred in the 70’s and 80’s that helped women make larger strides in the workforce, social economists are now saying that the progress that allowed the gender crossover in jobs may have stalled a bit since the last decade. The social scientists call this “occupational segregation” and they don’t seem to be too happy about it.

Why so?

Why the need to have a more equal workforce?

#1 To narrow the pay gap
Women earn 25% less than men do in general. But the reason why everyone harps about women getting less money than men do in their jobs is because of the type of jobs that most women find themselves in. If a man finds himself working in a “female” oriented job, he ends up earning 12.5 percent less than his male counterparts; whereas a woman who works in a “male” dominated field earns 25.9 percent more than her female peers. So interestingly, it’s all about the job type that changes the averages here.

#2 To better respond to shortages in fields, jobs, industries
Instead of getting worked up over perceived shortages in certain professions, it would be great if the labor pool can be easily balanced out by drawing from a supply of trained men or women to cover the skill gaps. But this is tough to achieve in reality because job stereotyping by gender is alive and well and is hard to vanquish. Even with laws out there that encourage openness in professions, the enforcement of sexual discrimination laws has been weak.

Male Preschool Teacher     Female Plumber

Data from the San Jose Mercury News:

The 10 Most Female Occupations

(highest percentage of workers that are female)

Occupation % Female Annual Wage
Dental hygienists 98.6% $60,980
Preschool and kindergarten teachers 97.7% $21,990
Secretaries and administrative assistants 96.9% $26,670
Dental assistants 95.4% $29,520
Speech-language pathologists 95.3% $54,880
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses 94.2% $35,230
Child care workers 94.2% $17,050
Hairdressers, hair stylists and cosmetologists 93.4% $20,610
Receptionists and information clerks 92.7% $22,150
Payroll and timekeeping clerks 92.4% $31,360

The 10 Most Male Occupations

(highest percentage of workers that are male)

Occupation % Male Annual Wage
Logging workers 99.8% $29,430
Automotive body and related repairers 99.4% $34,810
Cement masons, concrete finishers and terrazzo workers 99.3% $32,030
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists 99.1% $36,620
Electrical power-line installers and repairers 99.1% $50,150
Tool and die makers 99.1% $43,580
Roofers 98.9% $31,230
Heavy vehicle/mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics 98.6% $39,410
Home appliance repairers 98.5% $32,980
Crane and tower operators 98.5% $38,870

But how do we really feel about gender crossovers in the workplace? How comfortable would you be to see men in the maternity ward and day care centers or women in trucking, construction and heavy machinery operations? Strangely, I’m reading some reports which contradict the pay gap issues, such as this article, which appears that in less traditional and more gender blind type jobs, women in fact are earning more than men!

So don’t cry for the women yet, because reports are popping up about how they are gaining more lucrative jobs at a better pace than men are doing in the last several years.

It would be great to achieve an ideal employment balance on a national scale and I believe we’re still very much headed in the right direction. But I don’t lose sleep over the preponderance of traditional jobs today. We have immigration resolving job shortage issues (though that’s another hot topic!), plus there are less gender specific jobs out there that we can always try to gain skills for.

Copyright © 2007 The Digerati Life. All Rights Reserved.

{ 49 comments… read them below or add one }

Helen May 30, 2007 at 12:24 am

We can’t change the fact that women are different from men and that they differ in capabilities as well. There may be some who exceed their limit, but there are also those who can’t reach the normal limit.

Irene May 31, 2007 at 1:15 am

I think it’s unfair. The skills people possess differ on experience and knowledge. Although there are skills that men and women are better with, it doesn’t mean that it applies to everything.

Nancy May 31, 2007 at 6:30 pm

I agree that sex shouldn’t be the means to measure our skill. It should be our skill level that determines how good we are and how we should be paid.

KMull June 14, 2007 at 7:08 am

I believe the jobs segregate themselves based on the more natural abilities of each gender. Logging and roofing is hard, extremely physical, heavy lifting type work. Could a woman do it? Yes. I’m not saying she couldn’t. But would your average woman want to do it? Take a look at “Deadliest Catch” on Discovery Channel. 99.99% men. It’s hard, cold, dangerous work.

The more female dominated jobs are generally more about caring, talking, nurturing. Men are less inclined for these things (again, not saying it isn’t possible).

Yes, it is unfair there is a pay gap. I’m just talking about what leads to different genders in different jobs.

Just my 2 cents.

SingForHim@RealLife August 13, 2007 at 10:45 am

Wow, what a great post! I love that you dug a little deeper into the statistics, as it is easy to “pick a statistic” to support any position.

My husband is a teacher, and it is a growing trend where we live. Many men, however, are the primary breadwinner, so the prospect of having a job that pays so poorly is out for them. So sometimes, the pay-gap is what perpetuates the gender trends.

AlainaOfArc February 8, 2008 at 11:56 am

I couldn’t help but comment on this topic, having stumbled upon it somewhere during my regular blog-surfing.

@ KMull, these ‘natural’ tendencies of women to do ‘nurturing’ jobs while men do the ‘physical and difficult’ jobs is something that has been around since the dawn of humanity. Do you want to know why?

It’s because, for the large majority of human existence, women had to take care of their children. Simple as that. There were no bottles or breast pumps until very VERY recently. Because of this, women were responsible for the ‘interruptable’ work, such as digging up roots, cooking, and mending, what we would consider ‘housework’ nowadays. That means that families relied on men to do the hunting, something that could not be successful if little children are around.

While you may think this to be a natural, ingrained trait of men and women, it’s not. It’s a cultural, man-created divide. Of course, our survival as a species relied on it for thousands of years. But now that women have the technology to leave their kids with others, women CAN and will do these more ‘physically demanding’ jobs.

By the way, have you ever taken care of a 200 lbs physically disabled person? And you say that women don’t want to do physically demanding jobs….

Just my 2 cents.

melissa June 23, 2009 at 9:17 pm

I think that’s unfair and really stupid. Why are men and women treated differently if women are just as smart as men are. Why do men get more money for the same job, say for instance, in the area of sports. Let’s take for example the sport of professional soccer. No one hears much about women soccer stars, but men get all over the papers.

I think that it’s because the men cause all the scandals and because of that, they get more recognition.

Elizabeth June 25, 2009 at 10:25 am

I think that people miss a large problem here. Yes, jobs do seem to be gender specific and yes, people do complain. But how many actually DO anything about it. How many women actually APPLY for some of these construction jobs, roofers, or electrical repair positions? Yes, women do… and they are normally hired because we have laws that say you have to have a certain percentage of women and minorities on the job. So it no longer matters IF they can do the job, but only that they are hired for it. Look at those women jobs, now think about how many male teachers, nurses, secretaries, etc. who work. There are LOTS. Again, I think it’s because women are just not interested in finding and applying for these jobs. I work as a machine operator (and am female). When I started with my employer, the plant had more men than women. Now we have more women. We chose to learn and make this our careers. Where are the women who are going into these male dominated trades? Certainly not on here complaining. To make things happen, you must go out and make a change.

Darren October 19, 2009 at 11:46 am

I don’t mean to hate on the female gender but I’ve been seeing a lot of female workers getting into occupations like construction, heavy equipment operating (from d6 cats to locomotives). From what I’ve seen, females don’t take the job as seriously as males do (not that all males do, there are some slackers out there), but it does slow production. For example, in the case of a woman operating heavy equipment, dealing with the heavy equipment means that there will be some heavy stuff to be lifted or removed (such as engine bay doors).

I’ve heard of a female school bus driver who was stranded in the middle of nowhere with a load of children due to a flat tire. She couldn’t lift the spare and ended up having the 16 year old male students change it. Now what if that was a bus load of younger children and what if they were facing below freezing temperatures? I don’t even want to think about a situation like that! I know we are all equals but there are limits as to what a woman can do (physically). Not saying they belong in the kitchen. I believe that certain occupations should be left to the gender that is a better fit for the work.

MA November 18, 2009 at 10:03 am

I don’t think it’s a question of gender as it is general suitability. I see women in my gym every day who could outlift, outmaneuver, and outwork the vast majority of men out there. I’m short and out of shape, so I’m not going to be applying for any jobs requiring me to lift over 50 pounds. Not because of my chromosomes, but because of my general suitability for the position. The majority of women though are not body builders and are smaller and can lift less, therefore the heavy lifting jobs do not appeal to them. I do think that for that 0.3 percent of women that may be in a certain industry, they should get paid equal to their male counterparts.

Jn February 22, 2010 at 10:22 am

I think people should just get over it. Everyone has been fussing about it for the longest time. It’s getting old. Just do the job you want to do, and if people don’t like it. Oh well. Who cares!

Nick March 10, 2010 at 12:39 pm

Sexist jobs suck.

AJ Farina April 20, 2010 at 9:25 am

I think it’s fine to do what you want to do because you are supposed to chase your dreams and not do something you get bored with!

Robin Weaver April 21, 2010 at 5:56 pm

I think it doesn’t matter if my husband brings in more money than me because it is still going into the same pot. You have to be thankful for the little money you have; there are millions of people who have no money for bills, so be thankful that your wife or husband has a job. Praise GOD!

Michelle May 19, 2010 at 7:44 pm

Not all women are the same and after 15 years in the union and always having to prove myself, they still wouldn’t let me look at a blueprint. This was the case despite the fact that I worked harder than most men and was more educated than them. I had to put up with sexist ridicule everyday but because I was a single parent, I put up with it to make the $60,000 a year. Good thing my kids are grown since women are the last ones to go to work when there is no work out there.

Miguel Magomz August 26, 2010 at 11:19 am

I think men and women should do the same job but it would depend on their capabilities.

Charmaine August 31, 2010 at 3:06 am

Your sex should NOT matter. Women should be allowed to do what they want to do. It’s so fussy. Why care. I don’t think that it is fair. It is so sexist. And why care which job a woman does.

Javi October 24, 2010 at 11:15 pm

Does anyone think the paralegal job is more of a job for a male of female?

Silicon Valley Blogger October 25, 2010 at 7:39 am

@Javi,
I know both male and female paralegals. So it’s a popular job for both genders, IMO! This is the same case with the lawyer profession — there are both male and female lawyers, right?

Catherine November 5, 2010 at 6:14 am

It really doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out that men are much more suitable for some jobs than women. Their strength and ability to accomplish many things that women shouldn’t even try to do, IS in-born.

One of the most worthy careers a woman can do in life is to stay at home and raise her children. Even if you don’t have children, staying at home and being a housewife has its amazing rewards I don’t believe there is a better job to do than this. I have never had a dull moment or feel less accomplished doing this amazing career. Money has never been an issue because I believe that God has provided above and beyond what we ever would have hoped or imagined because I decided to stay home.

It is too bad that our society has lost sight of the importance of the difference between men and women, because we ARE different. Women have taken on manly jobs, which have created a race of men who are wimpy and have lost their way. Men have taken on women’s jobs which have turned women into these brash broads that have lost all of their femininity.

God created us male and female. If we could get back to that fact, then our society would produce amazing secure children, that would produce more amazing children, turning into amazing adults knowing their roles in life.

I have been a female for 60 years and know that being a feminine woman is the most fulfilling and wonderful career of my life, producing 4 very well adjusted children who are carrying on the tradition. For our family, we have learned the difference in the male/female roles and are greatly blessed because of this knowlege.

Nana of 13!

David November 30, 2010 at 12:38 am

@Catherine, you’re f*ing ridiculous. The gender based personalities of men and women are created by society. Men and women are conditioned by society to act masculine and feminine, there’s nothing natural about it.

Man I Am November 30, 2010 at 4:59 am

The male jobs mostly require physical strength. They also either expand or maintain society in a physical manner. The female jobs mostly produce paper or consume products only to discard them, which just creates garbage in the end.

I think David is wrong when he says, “Men and women are conditioned by society to act masculine and feminine…” Although I agree with the end of the sentence I didn’t post, the first part is wrong. Society wants women to act masculine although they are feminine, and tries to make men feminine although they are masculine.

Women are not as physically capable as men. This causes women to work slower and not accomplish as much in many, many career fields. It isn’t just limited to manual labor jobs either. Men usually walk fast and carry more than women. Men don’t get pregnant or take as many days off. Women are also more likely to have part time jobs and not work overtime. Why do men get paid more? I wonder…

Man I Am November 30, 2010 at 5:07 am

I find it funny that we the cliche statement of “women should get to do whatever they want to do and shouldn’t be held back.” And this is considered to be the creation of equality. Men don’t get that option. Men do what they have to do. They don’t just get to pick what they want and decide to force their way in. Men do what they have to do to survive, there isn’t any choice. You choose to fight and claw your way forward or die. Women get the privilege of choosing what they want to do, and complain about how unfair it all is and like they are being held back. I mean if women want to be treated equally to a man, part of being a man is being held back and told you can’t do something because of who and what you are. Feminists complain about sexism in society. Men get discriminated against everyday by other men, and women. Women want the power to choose what kind of life they want, well don’t we all…

J Chamberlain January 5, 2011 at 2:24 pm

I just happened to stumble across this post and I was curious if you had more information about the original article. I am doing research on the appearance of gender roles in children’s picture books and the data you found in this article seems very helpful. I tried searching their website, but was not very successful! Any information you have would be great!

DS121 February 3, 2011 at 7:34 pm

@Catherine…so what about us women that AREN’T fulfilled by being helpless? I am a female Electrical Engineer who is married with one child and people like you annoy the heck out of me! No men today aren’t wimpy, and think it’s great that jobs are less coded masculine and feminine than they used to be. God didn’t create men and women to be any certain way because God is just a product of society. Evolution may have dictated women’s roles, for the past millenium, but since humans are evolving, so are gender roles. BTW, being a stay at home PARENT is great, but shaming people and saying that women are somehow selfish for wanting more is absurd.

Morgan Jones February 10, 2011 at 10:13 am

I’m writing a paper for school on men jobs now done by women, and it got me thinking. We, as women, can do whatever we set our minds to. Who says a women can’t do a man’s job? Think about single moms — they have to be the mom and dad for their child. We are the dominant gender, we can have babies for crying out loud, all men are good for in my book, is killing spiders and going downstairs to check the door when we hear something. Ha. J/K. Men are very helpful in today’s society but that doesn’t mean women can’t be as well. Right?

Siw February 23, 2011 at 11:30 am

Many of you should do some further research about this topic! I am a MA student who is writing my dissertation about THE gender PAY GAP. As AlainaOfArc states, the history behind this is very important! But further, let’s take the teacher’s job as an example. Let’s compare one male history teacher to one female history teacher: why is the MALE history teacher earning more?

The point here is: equal position should mean equal pay. But note that it’s when the woman experiences a break in her career — say when she goes on maternity leave — that the pay gap begins. Having a child will cause you to go on leave. Going on leave for childcare reasons protects you from losing your job, by law. Your employer may offer you a “similar” position when you return. This may mean that you’ll require retraining. Women may in fact trigger higher costs for their employer, so this may be a factor in the work force.

Regarding gender discrimination: this issue would NOT exist if hiring managers would hire people based on their abilities, and pay them based on what they can do and not based on their gender. When work is done, the pay for that work should be the same for anyone who performs the job. If men and women work full-time, men should be doing 50% of the work at home that women do. Men can also take paternity leaves, so why not help in this area too (e.g. child rearing)?

PS: Catherine: there are women out there who are sick and tired of being discriminated against, and sick and tired of sitting at home. If you are so lazy to sit at home and do absolutely nothing, then fine. But I would be quite bored doing so. From your post, I get the vibe that you must be unemployed and living off the government! You make me sick: we work our rumps off so that you, who is lazy, can sit on your behind at home.

To Darren: you do make me sick too! Have you considered that this is NOT the woman’s fault? Have you considered that she might not have been given correct training? Or perhaps, most likely, NO training?

Think about it again! Enjoy! 🙂

AJackson February 24, 2011 at 10:41 am

Society has opposed the idea of women doing certain jobs from its inception (creation). Women are nurturers — we are caring, loving and gentle. Therefore, any job that doesn’t allow us to exhibit these qualifies, really is not one that we should engage in. With that said, this means basically that females can be hired for any type of job but that doesn’t mean that they will be asked to perform the same function as males. Cain and Abe went out to gather food. At no time where we told that Eve should. Some functions were not made to be performed by women (sexist right?) Absolutely not!

THE TRUTH August 12, 2011 at 9:22 pm

WORLD WAR 2 REALLY CHANGED THE world!! WHEN MEN WERE At war back in the early 1900’s women had to intervene! They had to run their homes and cities to survive because men were not in place (factories,fly planes,be captains, pastors and the list goes on) this is what lead to the women civil rights movements and women wanting equal rights THAT’S WHERE IT ALL STARTED…give them an inch and they took a mile …. that’s why they need to be reminded of how privilege they are now today! However, year by year I see them “coming out of their panties”. WHY…OH WHY!!?..Is it hard for women to understand that some jobs and careers just don’t suite their description as they are male oriented? The world sure has change over the past few hundred or maybe even thousands of years! Where in that time when a couple would be together and the MEN go out to work (fields,ships,hunting..etc) while the women does her work (feeding kids,farming,cleaning). I’m not saying that now in the “modern” days they cant do different, because if technology wasn’t for their best interest, they would surely DIE!!!

If we took the average “female” worker in these modern times and some how transported them back into the days(early 1800’s late 1900’s) when men didn’t have the knowledge to develop tools and machinery as yet for certain jobs, it would be worse than LABOR for them. This is what led to the 21st century that we know today…WOMEN (caring,loving benevolent creatures) have lost their femininity — that’s one of the reasons why there are SO MANY gay spirits running around jumping from body to body…when God judged man in the garden (man was never cursed — only women and the serpent were) for disobeying him, he told the woman: when giving birth to a child to shall you will go through pain”! God had such a strong and loving relationship with man that he DID not curse man! “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread”. Adam’s lifestyle of living was changed, that’s all! MEN and GOD are very alike! They have strong leadership skills, are strong decision makers, have masculinity… and the list goes on.

SOME jobs aren’t just for women…and WOMEN are not equal to man. If that were so he would have created them in his image instead out of MAN’s image..(from the ribs of Adam)..and for those of you who have a problem with other people’s posts and opinions (sorry mine’s a fact), it makes me wonder if their thoughts just might be true. You want to know why you have a problem with it (ladies) and maybe the men because PEOPLE (general) HATE THE TRUTH!! It’s clearly seen that women ARE the weaker vessel why does god urge man not to pray with hats on their heads because we are the image or the exact replica of GOD women are not as i have stated before as he requires the WOMAN to cover her head when she prays. Why does God refer to the HUMAN RACE (men and woman) as “man” (as seen through the scriptures)…. I’m sorry if i offended anyone here but this is just my two cents and i couldn’t help but say a *clears throat* few words. I would love to hear your comeback.

Robert December 16, 2011 at 1:23 am

I agree that women deserve to have rights but men actually work harder than women over in America — men in the construction field, electricians climbing poles, cutting trees, doing mechanic work, roofers, and window cleaners in high rises, etc. These are jobs that men primarily do. Currently in America, men make up over 92 % of the prison population and make up huge portions of the homeless population. It’s sad to see men that fought for America able to paint hud homes but they cannot live in them. The extreme disrespect towards men in America is going to cause a lot of problems: 1 out of every 4 men between the ages of 25 – 35 are living with mom and dad. In Rome and Greece, the statistics are even worse.

It’s no wonder why we see nothing but grown men saying no more — enough is enough! I support rights for women but it’s time that men got their nod. We are having to resort to crime. Just ask the millions in jail. They stole to have something and to be a man. I believe the figures, as far as employment goes, but many feminists make faulty statistics in which recognized statisticians or analysts get paid well and in turn the government funds more women’s programs.

Currently women are getting more grant money than men and the majority of money men make goes to women. I have read about the roots of feminism and even many communists are not aware that even Karl Marx stated he wasn’t a Marxist but believed in it. And he stated that he believed in independence for women but not to the point where man was out of the picture because it would eventually lead to the universal prostitution of women.

The reason why it is unethical for women to work in some occupations is because it can lead to rape and work place violence especially with all the rough necks at some jobs sites. I have watched it happen; in one day I saw 5 fights where I almost got stabbed for not even looking at her but because she wanted to chat.

Just like the military, there should be some stuff women should do but shouldn’t due to documented reasons of safety through years of studies that have been collected in which men are far more well suited for such work. Some jobs remove a man’s masculinity — I mean rob. Like a nail technician, a man that was once a lawyer or a macho type mechanic — these things strip a man of his honor and his dignity. I think what guys and young men like to watch is cowboy flicks like Gun Smoke and the Actor Palidin. We are truly being robbed of not just our dignity but even our right to live in America.

Web Site: fathersandmenthatareexfelonsbill.blogspot.com/
Video: youtube.com/watch?v=7mPwS-1Dg10

Julie February 12, 2012 at 8:20 pm

I worked in a supermarket as a checkout operator. We had to use our industrial muscle. I had huge muscles on my shoulders, upper arm and lower arm muscles. I had to lift 10 kg bags of potatoes all day long for customers. I had to lift heavy t.v’s, microwaves, 12 bottle boxes of beer, 12 bottle cardboard cases of wine, each can of food was a weight, I had to lift 2kg bags of sugar, lift 2kg packets of mince, 2kg packets of mince, pigs heads, 10 kgs bags of frozen chicken pieces. I would probably move 650 tonnes of food a day. I would have swollen arm muscles after work and I worked full time in the supermarket from 8.30pm – 5pm. (40 hour week). I had to concentrate to operate a computer system to operate a computerized machine. (computerized till). Learn and memorize 100’s of 4 digit codes to do with bulk food department and the produce department. Have knowledge of different names of pears, apples, melons, peanuts, lollies, bulk food snacks. I had to use a scale and weight and food from Meat department, Bulk foods, Deli Department, Produce Department, Butchery Department.

Why should I weigh and price food on behalf of other departments? I was only paid $7.00 (NZ) an hour after tax and that was only $280.00 a week after tax to work a 40 hour week. I sold the supermarket more than $280.00 worth of groceries in a week. I also had to connect customers to their bank account through eftpos. Why should I connect the customer to their bank and help them do their (BANKING!)? To get cash out of their bank account. I had to count up cash. How much does a Bank Teller get paid to count up cash. I had to order money. I had to be presentable, be friendly and polite to customers. How much does a receptionist get paid to be friendly and polite to customers. I had to use my arm muscles how much does a builder get paid to use their arm muscles?

Julie February 12, 2012 at 8:39 pm

I am a 43 year old woman and work a 40 hour week and live with my elderly mother. I cannot afford a mortgage. Where is my money for a mortgage? I do not have a house husband running around after me while I WORK 40 hours per week. (MAKING MY LIFE EASY FOR ME, LIKE THESE LAZY HUSBANDS!!!!!!) I do DUSTING, VACUUMING, WASH BATHROOM, KITCHEN, TOILET FLOORS WITH A MOP AND BUCKET. WASH AND DRY DISHES, I NOT USE A DISHWASHER. I don’t have a dishwasher. WASH MY CLOTHES, IRON MY SHIRTS, TROUSERS, COOK FOR myself and my mother. SUPERMARKET SHOPPING, PAY BILLS, MOW LAWNS, GARDENING, TAKE RUBBISH TO RUBBISH DUMP, PUT OUT RUBBISH AND RECYCLING. UNLIKE these POOFY, SPOILT BRAT, LAZY (HUSBANDS). HOUSEWORK is WORK and should be included as part of the 40 hour week in New Zealand or around the world. Your employer should be made to pay you 3 hours paid Housework Leave as part of the 40 hour week.

Sharon February 12, 2012 at 9:22 pm

I worked in the bakery from the age of 24 to 30 years old. I had to bake bread in a hot oven. I had to lift heavy cast iron trays with bread on it and. tray up and grease trays and tray up dough. I baked French Sticks, rolls, torpedo rolls, chelsea buns, donuts, vienna loaves, muffins, cakes. I got burnt on my arms and got scars on my arms, and burns on my finger tips. I AM A FEMALE. I AM ONLY 5 foot 1 and 3/4 in height. A lot shorter than my 6 foot manager who worked in my bakery.

Helen February 12, 2012 at 10:22 pm

All work is work. All work makes the world go round. People use their skills to their ability, everyone is responsible for their work, have skills, have work conditions. All it is — men are overpaying themselves and ripping off women. If you expect women to work for their wages, then so can men work for the same amount that women get paid for their work. You males, stop ripping off female at your work. All work is important, you have to have checkout operators, cleaners, word processers, receptionists, bank tellers, and not just mechanics, lawn mowers, gardeners, housewashers, concrete workers. A lot of work women do are more important than men’s jobs and are more useful. I do not have my car fixed every week; I do not have my drive done every week. But I would use a checkout operator every week of my life. Cashiers in supermarkets deserve more money and are worth more money. Wake up supermarkets!

Woman May 15, 2012 at 4:00 pm

To The Truth

You have been reading a lie. Here is my comeback. Women are not cursed by God. In fact, Woman was deceived in the garden of Eden by a serpent. She then offered the fruit to Adam which he took and ate. He could have said no to her, but he didn’t. ADAM LISTENED TO HIS WIFE; IF HE HADN’T, THE TRUTH WOULD BE RIGHT, BUT HE IS WRONG FOR ADAM LISTENED TO HIS WIFE INSTEAD OF GOD, AND SINNED. Man and woman were both punished. The fall of man has more to do with Adam and HIS fall. For why would God plant his own seed in a virgin to clear man of all of his sins??? He didn’t use a man to bring about the salvation of man — he used a young virgin woman named Mary. God promises to bless those that have suffered in this world. This includes women. The last will be first, and the first shall be last. Women is the last thing God created. He loves women, and men the same. He will judge all the abusers of women, and the women will have justice. Lucifer hates women, and this might explain all the problems that women have in this world. That is my comeback: you speak the lies of lucifer…

Silicon Valley Blogger May 15, 2012 at 4:31 pm

Looks like this discussion has degenerated into some kind of religious debate, which I prefer to stay clear of. Obviously, there are ultra conservatives that feel differently about the roles of the different sexes. Your views depend on how you were brought up and what you were exposed to. But I thoroughly believe that you can be true to your religious beliefs and still have a balanced stance on the different roles of both men and women in this world.

C.T. November 12, 2012 at 7:42 am

I think that gurlz getting more money is awesome!

Melissa S November 12, 2012 at 7:42 am

I teach 8th grade literature and right now my students are discussing gender crossover occupations. The majority seem to feel that they would hire a male for a traditional female occupation and visa-versa. I’ve asked them to comment on this article and the responses. Please feel free to respond to them!

J.K. November 12, 2012 at 7:44 am

It depends on the job someone wants. I don’t care what that person’s gender may be, as long as they are trying to get a job to support themselves.

MS November 12, 2012 at 7:45 am

I think it’s unfair that men and women are getting treated differently and getting paid differently because of their gender! They should get paid the same! 🙁

SG November 12, 2012 at 7:51 am

I think all men and women should be treated the same as stated in the Constitution. Also, I do agree that if you work harder then you should get paid more.

b.y November 12, 2012 at 7:52 am

I believe that women and men are getting jobs that they want — not what god told them to get. This whole thing is stupid — religion has nothing to do with it!

L.R. November 12, 2012 at 7:53 am

I don’t think that the gender really matters. It’s how well they do the job. Some people are just better than others in a job.

Sly Fox November 12, 2012 at 7:55 am

Of course, people separate the sexes and most people feel that women are delicate and gentle, but women can do hard work. Everyone is entitled to their own point of view and mine is that men and women should be treated somewhat the same. If you look all around the world and in history and even today in some places, women are degraded in some places. Men are supposed to be their saviors and their kings but in some places they are treated the same. Personally, I like it when both sexes are treated the same. We are all equal. It doesn’t matter if you are black, hispanic, white, male or female — we all have our rights!

Lety N. M. November 12, 2012 at 8:05 am

I personally think that it dosent matter what or who you are , boy or girl, man or woman. People should have the right to work where ever the want, if they have the ability to do it then let them. 🙂

Patience November 13, 2012 at 8:06 am

This article really points out how much more men make than women.

Dottie November 15, 2012 at 8:52 am

I love you guys!!!! girls!!!!!

I am a female construction worker. I make well above the quoted income suggested above and honestly if you can clean your house you can work construction. I have been installing tile and hardwood for 15 years and I am very healthy because of my consistent movement. I’ll admit my nails aren’t pretty and the job took a minute to get use to but I am ever so grateful I choose to work construction.

Through my journey I have been judged, mocked, harassed, and doubted but at the end of the day most people come around and appreciate who I am.

I am also a single mother of four children which was my sole reason for entering the field, they had to eat! It’s hard to work the demanding job I do and read bedtime stories but it’s worth every minute as I look at its face value. This article is amazing.. because it opens the door for the real problem which is training. A man can go to college to learn nursing, teaching, and admin but there is few training women in construction that actually provides a skill placement.

So I proud of those who step out and do what they want to do regardless of what people label as traditional. God Bless America!

Silicon Valley Blogger November 19, 2012 at 3:03 pm

Thanks Melissa S, for having your class come over and comment. I have published their comments and the feedback is awesome. Thanks again!

Jahny April 10, 2013 at 11:54 am

All of you suck

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