Gender bending in the work place?

Question

Why is it that, in the view of popular society and the media, when a man decides to work as a hairdresser or nurse then he is instantly branded as being gay. Women, on the other hand, who decide to work in the Fire Brigade or become plumbers etc... are praised for breaking cultural boundries?

Answer 1

Those are ignorant stereotypes. I judge people in the workplace by their performance, not their gender or sexual preference.

Answer 2

Is that so ?

I know three very non gay hairdressing men, two non gay male nurses.... No one think theyre gay (that I'm aware of).

I do know a gay plumber, but he's not a woman... lol... It's a funnly life. I think you may believe too much of what you hear about what other people think about .... Ummmm..... No, look... what I'm trying to say is.... The whole "everyone thinks such and such is a gay mans job" is an urban myth... probably spread in the media (Sun, Sky TV etc). the problem is... impressionable people hear this stuff and "believe" it because theyre told it's true... I just wish people would learn to think.
Step ONE.... Switch the TV off, and stop buying newspapers.

Answer 3

Because a Fireman and a plumber are considered to be strenious Jobs more suited for a male.
Whilst on the other hand picking up a pair of sciccors and a comb is not. Women like to do their friends hair, How many boys do you see doing their friends hair? None! Why ? Because it would be considered Puffy.
Women who succeed whilst doing these jobs are praised not only for breaking Cultural Boundries but mainly for breaking physical boundries, Which I think is a fair point because On the whole (without trying to sound sexist here) Women are not as strong as Men. Genrally Men like to be praised for doing something Masculine not Femmine which coming and styling anothers hair is.
I have two friends who are brothers incedently who are Hairdressers, Who I have never heard anybody refer to as gay.
Maybe Guys who are hairdressers get Branded as gay because a lot of camp gay guys like to do hairdressing because they are femmine. I didnt see that bit about the Nurse at first, And I have never considered a Male nurse to be Homosexual... My Grandfather was a senior nurse at our city hospital. As far as I know he was never considered to be gay, Maybe it was because he didnt qualify until he was 40?? who knows?
I also have a friend who is 2 years older than me who is a male nurse.

Answer 4

Its not gender bending is it.
If a job can be done with equal facility by men or women why worry, Coal mining is a good example as women being generally smaller can work in smaller galleries which where seams are thin are much more cost effective.
Dentistry, male dentists should be banned their huge unmanageable hands are completely unsuitable for working in my mouth.
However if I was overcome by smoke I would rather a 15 stone bloke carried me to safety than have a 8 stone bird tell the inquest why she could not lift me. What use is a Policewoman when big lads are fighting, fine for reporting the murder to HQ but the fight wanted stopping. Women should be allowed to do any job where they can equal blokes in all important respects, and blokes likewise but dont let folk die because of somebodys ego

Answer 5

I agree with the first guy, those are ignorant stereotypes. I don't automatically assume anything about someone sexual orientation, unless I'm in an ignorant mood and I say, "Look honey at the way that guy walks, he's gay", me and her will have a good laugh, its good harmless fun. However, we all know that it is socially acceptable for women to be gay and not men, and when those views change, those traditionally regarded feminine jobs will change too. Until then unfortunately we have to deal with ignorant stereotypes, don't let it get your panties in a bunch though, prejudice and ignorance will always be present, but your not.

Answer 6

Oh how right you are. I am a straight guy who studied fashion at University and the amount of people who presumed I was gay was unbelievable. Some say that it shouldn't matter if people think you are gay but trust me it does. Try getting a girlfriend when everyone thinks that you are just denying the fact that you are gay. It's damn near impossible! It's also a pain to hang around with 40 women who will never date you because they see you as one of the girls.

Answer 7

I am a nurse and a bisexual g0y but when I came out to my coworkers they where shocked because I am more masculine than most yet not hyper masculin like most tops. The guy that was most shocked was the gay queen. He is also the first gay man that I know personally to finally get that g0y is not just a label for a homosexual not wanting to be gay. He looked at me the other day and said to me WOW you really are not a gay man are you. LOL only took him 6 months to figure it out.

Answer 8

I have never come across men being classified as gays for doing such jobs. I perosnally admire male hairdressers or cooks for that matter. They do very well in these areas as you may have observed. on the other hand women doing men jobs are consodered very strong and daring bcos the job it self demands some streanth and energy to accomplish that why.

Answer 9

It's a long history, honey. You said it yourself, it's in the view of popular society and the media. We were brainwashed to believe that men are much powerful and superior than women and as a result, we tend to view men who work the women's job as sissies. Interestingly, the root of this notion is men's insecurity. Don't you know that early in history, women are regarded as gods and superior than the men? It was the jealousy and insecurity of the men that made our world today.

Answer 10

because it takes hard work to be a fireman or a plumber. a man opting to be a hairdresser or nurse is just.....gay. they're too nice for men to be doing. be gay if you want to be

Answer 11

I met a good hairdresser once who was male and not gay.
But society seems to think in stereotypes indeed.