Gay's choices of profession and area of study.?

Question

This is not meant to be offensive. Why is it that most gays seem to be verbalist. Also, why is it that most gays seem to major in social sciences with far fewer majoring in the engineering, natural or physical science. Once again this has just been an obervation of mine that I hope you can help me with. Is it that typically in the past things like literature and social work were seem as more feminine pursuits whereas math and science were seen as more masculine. Do gays still feel pressure to lean towards these more feminine careers or is the reason for this more genetic in nature. Surely I can not be the only one who has made this observation. Please don't get defensive and say "No gays can do anything straight people can do" I know that, and I don't think the question was in any way offensive.

Answer 1

I recognize the validity of your question, but I don't think its necessarily a matter of gays choosing one type of career over another.
Instead, I'd say that people in fields that are typically thought of as feminine are likely more open minded and subsequently more likely to be out and visible as a homosexual.

Answer 2

I'd be curious to see numbers on this, but we'll assume for now that you're correct, and a statistically significant number of gay people gravitate towards language and social science. For one thing, the social scientists used to have a lot to say ABOUT us, without talking TO us. That's not a huge factor anymore, but it may very well have been early on. For another: you'd agree that queer people lean towards social liberalism, right? As such, their motivations, career ambitions, and even interests would all point more towards the careers you described, and away from the potentially higher-paying engineering / math + science fields. Again, I'd be curious to test that theory with some numbers (psych major), but that's my theory.

Answer 3

What you have witnessed in academia is just a for outer appearances. Many, many men in the hard sciences (engineering, biology, physics, etc.) are not straight. They must EXIST and THRIVE in a research and teaching world of hyper-masculinity and hegemonic masculinity, however, so they keep their true sexual orientation secret. Sometimes even their closest associates in their departments don't know; others only suspect that they are not straight. And many times these fellows keep their lives almost excessively private for this reason: So (in their minds) they don't even give the APPEARANCE that they are not straight -- some are even married or have been married but like to point out that they are now divorced, period. And by the way, do you have any idea how these fellows (or ladies) express their sexuality during university-sanctioned trips, workshops, etc.? No. You would be shocked what supposedly straight professional people will do once they are out of the prying eyes of those who know them -- even when they visit another campus.

What I have written above about faculty and associates holds true for undergrad and grad students too. Unless you actually live with these fellows (or gals) or at least live by them and interact with them outside an academic department, you don't have the foggiest idea what their orientation might be. Take my word on this one: Some of these hyper-masculine guys you might attend class with, study with, talk to each other outside of class with, and even dress next to in the gym locker room or take a shower with at school -- are in fact, gay or bisexual. And their choice of major has absolutely nothing to do with it -- there is no correlation. These [mostly] guys, are just role playing to survive and you as an outside observer, are taking it all in and mistakenly identifying them as straight men. I would not lie to you. There is NO reason for me to do so: Several (if not many) of the supposedly straight male faculty (or your fellow male classmates) are either gay or bi and very much sexually attracted to and aroused by males -- and they may very well be aroused by you!

Answer 4

My opinion--gays tend to identify with careers such as these because to an extent we feel like outsiders. This allows many of us to "think outside the box" more than many other people. It also makes us more curious about how society works in general as opposed to how more concrete things work.
Also I think a lot of out gays tend to be more introspective; you have to be to come to the realization youre gay and you can't change it; by nature that leads to a lot of introspection. So I think it's more of a question of what being gay has made us think about and realize rather than it being a feminine or masculine thing.

Answer 5

just to answer your question - i have a bachelor's of science in business administration with the emphasis of hotel, resort, and restaurant management with a minor in marketing communication.

however, after graduating i have been getting accounting jobs. math is my strongest subject.

so basically it really just depends on the person.

Answer 6

There are many gay doctors, nurses, scientists, engineers, and in any other technical field. You may not have seen them because they look like everyone else.

Answer 7

I was degreed in Biological Sciences. I'm gay. I don't know where I fit in the scheme.

Answer 8

I don't think I fit in there, I'm in school for Broadcast Journalism.

Answer 9

well one thing is certain.
they are not all beauticians and interior decorators.

they are, policemen , fireman,
doctors, lawyers and such.

we are everywhere!

it feels so good to say this, YEAH!