Non-Traditional Careers for Men and Women
Title IV of the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination by an employer due to a person's sex, as well as race, color, national origin, and religion. However, even as people across the country take big strides to create environments of equality, occupational segregation based on gender still exists in many jobs. Careers in certain fields, held traditionally by only men or only women, still reflect those trends today. For example, the majority of early education teachers, dental hygienists, and nurses are women, while men occupy most jobs in the automotive, construction, and public safety sector.
However, many men and women are breaking through traditional barriers and taking strides to narrow the gender gap by exploring career options in these fields traditionally occupied by the opposite sex. More and more men are pursuing careers as elementary school teachers and nurses, while many women are working construction or service as police officers and firefighters.
Reducing the Potential for Harassment
Despite these gains, people working in non-traditional fields are more likely to face harassment and discrimination in the workplace than people working in jobs with more equal representation of the sexes. One commonly cited example is discrimination faced by male nurses from patients, superiors, educators, and other nurses. Another is harassment of female construction workers by coworkers or bosses.
Many organizations have been created as pillars of support for people in careers traditionally occupied by the opposite sex, but even with the support of these organizations and of anti-discrimination laws, the problems persist. However, especially as many people struggle to find employment, more and more people are choosing to explore viable careers in non-traditional fields, and perhaps in the near future, the gap will be lessened.
Contact Us
If you have faced discrimination in the workplace, the Houston employment attorneys of the Ross Law Group can assist you with your case. To schedule a free consultation, contact us today at 713-482-6910.