by Victor Kang, Esq.
Rubin Lublin, LLC*
USFN Member ( AL, GA, MS, TN)

Part two of a two-part series.

Without dating yourself, how many folks remember the old trope of the loveable guy trying to take care of the family and home? From Michael Keaton’s Mr. Mom to John Candy’s Uncle Buck to modern versions like Adam Sandler in Big Daddy, Eddie Murphy in Daddy Day Care, and The Rock in The Game Plan, it’s always an easy laugh to see the rough and tough alpha male take care of kids and perform what were stereotypically female roles of cooking, cleaning, and rearing children. As gender roles have evolved to where many of the domestic duties are now shared, there remain some positions in various industries where females still dominate the workforce.

For example, in our industry, there are several roles that are often female dominated. According to the Census Bureau, almost 81% of bank tellers are female. And, among law firms, 72.8% of paralegals are women. In recent years, these numbers have shifted from the 1960s, where the numbers were almost entirely lopsided. Other roles in the court, like court reporters and clerks have also been traditionally  staffed by females. The stereotype is that paralegals, clerks, and bank tellers are seen as administrative and secretarial roles that are “suitable” for women.  As we all can attest, this is simply not true. As the work and expectations of staff have changed, the roles have evolved to become more than just sitting at a desk and answering a phone while typing. As technology has improved, so has the skills of the workforce. As shocking as it may seem, even today, there are some attorneys who do not have their own email or computer and rely solely on their staff to type letters and pleadings. Some may even have an old Dictaphone sitting around. But as the needs of the legal community evolve, the role has now developed to where the duties and responsibilities are no longer purely secretarial. This change has helped remove many of the stereotypes associated with support roles in the legal and banking community.

Another role that has been traditionally female dominated is that of the caregiver. From early education teachers, to social workers, to massage and occupational therapists, positions that require empathy, care, and more nurturing instincts have been seen as female only roles. As those comedic movies mentioned above have shown – men are just as capable of being effective caregivers. As stereotypes fade about how men must be macho, type-A, aloof, emotionless beings, more opportunities have opened for those who can connect emotionally with those in need. Our society has also recognized that anybody can be good at working with children and those in need of assistance. But, even with gradual changes in attitude, men are still barely represented in early education roles, as studies estimate that workers who are male range from 1.4% to 3%. Men in these fields still often deal with stigmas or being labeled as not being a “real man.” Researchers have shown that having a diverse, early interaction with men, especially in single-parent households, can help broaden a child’s growth and development. And further, by having males in this uncommon role, it can help shatter stereotypes that would otherwise be reinforced in a female-dominate role. Famed tennis player Novak Djokovic has a foundation that advocates for the importance of men in early childhood education.  The National Association for the Education of Young Children also provides services to help recruit men to these roles.

Lastly, as we return to pre-pandemic life,  many of us are returning to flying and traveling. In our travels, we often notice certain roles that have traditionally been lopsided for one gender or the other. For example, female pilots still make up only 5% of the commercial airlines in the U.S. And, on the flip side, flight attendants remain heavily female, although the percentage of men has increased in the U.S. from 19% to 26% since 1980. This growing number can be attributed to the changing expectations of flight attendants. For the older crowd, many can remember that flight attendants were also called stewardesses, and they were often viewed as eye candy for the traveling man. Uniforms were tightfitting,  and sometimes left little to the imagination.  Back when flying was a luxury afforded to a few and the clientele was mostly male, stewardesses were sexualized to be a cocktail waitress in the sky. Some airlines even forbade men from becoming attendants. Thankfully, now, flight attendants have evolved to more than just a drink server. The security and safety of the flight is of the utmost importance. Flight attendants provide more than just peanuts and Coke; they assist the pilots in providing a smooth and safe flight. By having a diverse crew, this can also help in emergency situations and help keep the cabin calm. Many of the stereotypes of a male flight attendant are luckily being overshadowed by the immense benefits of this role – from free flight benefits to flexible schedules to being able to see the world.

In the end, often many of the jobs and roles that are uncommon for men seem to have a common thread - that the job is seen as feminine or not “manly.” But, as those roles are either evolved or completely changed, it has helped to increase the diversity of the workforce. As gender roles continue to blur, no longer can it be easily claimed that a man is not good at typing or caring for children. While differences may exist on a biological level, many of the perceived strengths and weaknesses are born through generations of stereotyping. As we continue to break down those misconceptions, changing the mindset and expectations of traditionally female roles will continue to help create the best results for our industry and others.

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December 2021 USFN Report