Explaining Mens Entry - Article Example

Explaining Men’s Entry Introduction ‘Explaining Men’s Entry into Female Concentrated occupations: Issues of Masculinity and Social Class’ by Ben Lupton has forced the people to look at the gender issue from a new perspective of men foraying into so called women dominated area of work. For decades, feminist movements and women in general have been fighting for the equal rights and gender equality in all areas of work but very few seem to realize that the gender war has now gone beyond the precincts of the social paradigms. Pre-defined and pre-determined roles of men have undergone tremendous social change, raising the more pertinent issues of the compulsions that construct social boundaries for gender related functions. The article has focused on the social imperatives that may be responsible for men taking up jobs in female concentrated occupations. Summary The article, on the contrary, is a research study that has touched an aspect of the gender issue that is not voluntary but forced on the so called dominating male. The author says that in the contemporary times, men are entering into female concentrated occupations but refuse to contemplate or accept the need for either crossing the socio-psychological barrier or making any efforts to bridge the increasing divide within the social fabric. They are not entering into the so called female occupation out of personal preferences but because they either do not have any option or their decisions are solely based on vested interests and career goals. Assessment of methods used The article details the short research that was conducted on the odd 27 men, gives pertinent information regarding men’s behavior under different situational paradigm. The research methodology was focused on ‘interview’ that could have prompted pre-meditated response. But at the same time, it has combined so many issues into one that the impact of the study has lost context and bumbles at the dark recesses of the research arena that are either already proved or have already been articulated by others. The research itself is confined to such small sample that it may not actually represent the true state of the issue in question. Strength and weakness The highlight of the research was that the men were perceived to have personalities that are focused towards self interests and ego based, which were often at cross road to the wider objectives of the workplace. The research has reasserted that masculinity is a major factor with men and have analyzed in a scientifically comprehensive manner that may not be easily understood by a common man. It has given new perspective to gender issue that has wider ramifications for the society at large. While the wider goals and objectives of the research are exemplary but the methodology and the processes used to carry it out, tend to trivialize it. Emphasis on masculinity aspect has been perceived as the main propellant of the behavioral pattern, which is contestable. The author has confessed that the self image and perception of self is often the main cause of competitive and ego boosting confessions and acts. Critique Ben Lupton’s article is highly relevant in the present climate of fast changing global environment. The study, while disseminating such vital information regarding the motivations that impel men into female concentrated occupations, is also crucial for the social scientists because environment factors that provoke and promote such changes need to be understood on the wider platform of changing social paradigms. The research has revealed that female concentrated occupations are the last options for men because they are seen as a compromise on their masculinity. It has reconfirmed that masculinity is a major aspect of working men and they bring this baggage with them in their work area! Unlike women, men promote their masculinity in order to gain leverage in the female concentrated occupations. Another very interesting revelation of the study is that men who venture into this area are prone to exhibit low regard attitude for their job and continuously try to explain their position in the area. Since the job in this area is not the first option or a desirable option, they look for ways and means to overcome the masculinity complex by bringing innovative masculine measures to the job description. Indeed, without actually comprising on the core objectives, they make efforts to change the perspectives and external paradigms of the job to make it more acceptable to suit their so called masculinity factor and pamper their ego. While this change may be satisfying to the men, it has focused on a very important aspect of work culture. Men at all levels, try to bring about changes in their work whereas, women try to conform with the diktats of the social constraints and fear to apply any creative approach to their work. The history is witness to the fact that throughout the world, the patriarchal society has tried to impose restrictions on the freedom of women and have promoted constitutional laws and social precepts and guidelines that not only confine women’s independence but they encourage men to create social environment that smother their potential and creativity. The patriarchal society was created by men to maintain a dominant position in the society that restricts the role of women in any decision making and promotes a set of rules for their conduct and actions, both within the family and outside the family environment. While some prominent women like Cleopatra, Queen Elizabeth, Mary Tudor etc. have risen above their gender and made a mark but they had also failed to impact the wider social context of gender equality on the basis of merit. The changing paradigms of socio-economic compulsion, post WWII, became the major propellant for the feminist movement in the West. Basic right for self expression and empowerment of women increasingly became a major issue for the societies at large. The most interesting and perhaps the most vital factor of gender issue was the empowerment of the women. Empowerment facilitates realization of self worth, instilling self confidence in one’s ability to make independent decisions about themselves, especially with relation to their socio-economic and political decisions. An empowered woman has more options and freedom to transform those choices into concrete action plans for the betterment of self and the society at large. They ventured into male dominated areas because they did not have any options in the male dominated society! Contrarily, in the article, the gender perspectives of the men working in female concentrated areas throw important insight into the male psychology but at the same time, make it imperative that such changes need to be looked from a broader platform of social processes and labor market compulsions where the social mobility has become a necessity rather than a luxury. The work paradigms need to become the major incentive and men and women need to look at themselves as effective elements to improve and improvise the performance outcome of organizational goals and objectives. In the cutting edge competition, merit outplays the gender biases and people need to overcome their psychological barriers to compete as individuals. The author has shown a justifiable concern on the fast changing perspectives of workplace compulsions that seem to promote increasing gender constructions to the workplace paradigms instead of the value based system. Men need to be more flexible and professional in their outlook and look beyond the gender biases. The precepts and concepts of social class that relies on the attitude towards gender based work classifications and role specified occupations need to evolve so that they are able to embrace the new emerging societal norms. The rapidly changing socio-economic conditions have brought in pluralistic society with its own plethora of issues. In the fiercely competitive world, it is essential that people are able to exercise their freedom, choose judiciously and interpret things and issues with wider perspectives. Men need to make conscientious efforts to understand the emerging new values and develop better understanding of their counterparts to overcome the socio-psychological barriers to work in harmony. Reference Lupton, Ben. Explaining Men’s Entry into Female Concentrated occupations: Issues of Masculinity and Social Class. Gender, Work and Organization, Vol.13 No. 2, pp 103-128, March 2006. Read More