Katie, your articles are always gold but this one is *chef's kiss*. What a positive perspective on the future of work and feminist system design. Thanks for sharing.
Such a great analysis of where we've gotten to as a society. The feminization of labor--pink collar jobs--began in the 1920s, at least in the U.S. It was understood that once these stenos and secretaries and teachers and nurses started having babies, they'd drop out of the market (and often were pushed out by company policies, mostly written by men, that saw women's place as being in the home).
Now, 100 years on, women can be found in C-suites and boardrooms, in governorships and in Congress, in courtrooms and in the hospital O.R. As vice president and, twice now, almost in the White House. And, lamentably, a belated recognition of the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution--too little, too late.
The pushback we're seeing today comes as blowback--that women are taking jobs and power away from men--and men feel marginalized. (Whether it's true that women are pushing men out or not is besides the point).
Beginning in the late 1960s, the women's movement played a big part in supporting policy and legislation to support women in stepping out--and the media also began portraying more empowered women. But there has been no corresponding movement to help men adapt and see themselves as important in this new world--and they don't know their "role" anymore, feeling devalued and useless. The push to erase DEI initiatives in government and industry is also a push to get women (and minorities) out of the workforce and back tending home and hearth (and babies and aging parents) "where they belong."
Unlike in past "waves" of feminism, however, many families don't have the luxury of one paycheck, and automation is just the newest threat.
Progress is always followed by blowback. Unfortunately, we're now in it. Unless men are supported for their contributions in this social shift, or some kind of guaranteed income and job retraining programs lay the foundation for those whose jobs are lost to automation, the situation may have to get worse before it gets better.
I wonder how you see the possibilities for supporting this shift, Katie?
Agree, social change can’t just be about opening doors for one group—it has to involve reimagining roles and structures for everyone else too.
I know that Germany, for instance, has implemented a program (the Mehr Männer in Kitas) to encourage more male educators in early childhood education as well as to improve the profession’s image. Sweden has also introduced retraining programs for men entering social care fields. Hopefully more of the world will introduce similar initiatives in the near future as well. It would certainly be a step in the right direction, for once.
"But there has been no corresponding movement to help men adapt and see themselves as important in this new world--and they don't know their "role" anymore, feeling devalued and useless." - exactly. Also men are proving resistant to adaptation, not least as "masculine" is primarily defined as not "feminine". Seeing women in powerful roles outside the home in TV, film etc, is clearly exciting for the girls and young women watching. Seeing men in caring and nurturing roles, inside or outside the home, is just less exciting for boys and young men to watch.
I agree, John. And boys need a different picture than girls--action-oriented not nurturing. Or action-oriented AND nurturing.
What if we brainstorm: how could we depict--through film, tv, social media, graphic novels and all the channels available to boys and young men--a positive, heroic, action-oriented vision for the "new boy" or "new man" for the 21st century and beyond? Where are the heroes saving the world against evil through acts of kindness, charity, caring, creating?
I bet there are some great creative minds here who can come up with ideas!
Or how about we just brought dads back? The awesome, strong AND caring dads that so many of us had back then. The ones who could change diapers, operate the washing machine, do the dishes, teach us how to fish and how to slide tackle, teach us how to talk to girls and what books to read, comfort us when we were scared and keep calm and confident when the world around us erupted in chaos. Maybe they didn't always kiss and hug us or tell us how much they loved us (mine did - but not all the others), instead they fixed our bikes when we had a flat tire, helped us pack our backpacks when we where going on hikes, stuck an extra fiver in our shirt pocket before a date, or said "I love you" in a million other ways with out saying the words.
How about we bring him back? Maybe he is never all of these things, but maybe he is some of them, and maybe he is trying, and sometimes he screws up, but don't we all?
"kindness, charity, caring, creating" - that's what men have been doing since the beginning of time, problem is we mostly don't recognize it as that anymore. When Superman or Capt. Murica "saves the world (as heroes do) is that not an act of kindness? And act of caring? When Jack sacrifices himself for Rose, or when all the men agreed to let women and children in the boats first, is that not an act of charity? Why did 20 million young men give their lives for "king and country"? Who are these "new heroes" we need. We have a fuck-ton (I don't know exactly how many this is, but I heard it is a lot) of genuine heroes to chose from already. How about we just let boys know that men are actually quite ok when you get down to it, and they do a lot of good in the world!
"Care work has always been human work. And one of the most, if not the most, important backbones of our society." yesssss! louder for those at the back!
Because they have - not because they want to. Japanese birthrates are in a death spiral, at present Japan is selling more adult diapers than baby diapers. This is bound to happen in the rest of the (western) world as well, just give it time since we have below replacement birth rates
I am not blaming women or feminism for this. It is still a fact, a challenge and pretty bleak.
I accept that as a partial premise, although according to C. M. Alcocer (Sciencespace.blog) this is changing: "The collective efforts of unions and professional organizations have significantly impacted nursing salaries in Japan. Through collective bargaining agreements and advocacy, nurses have been able to negotiate competitive salaries and benefits packages that reflect their skills and experience. Moreover, industry standards established by professional organizations provide a framework for fair compensation, ensuring that nurses are recognized for their contributions to the healthcare system."
Yes. Although it does look like we are going to try the alternative first, which is to have a temper tantrum and burn the whole world down.
Side note - if machines are more 'male' and AI tends to have the characteristics of its creators, might that mean that AI is more likely to kill us than if it were instead an extension of the feminine?
It's too bad because this piece is so positive and optimistic for our species, but I just don't know if men, or the wealthy and powerful (also men) are going to let it happen, or if they're going to insist on pushing us into a dystopia.
History certainly suggests that progress often comes with a lot of resistance (and, at times, violent destruction). But I try to remain hopeful that those temper tantrums, or AI, won't drive us towards complete extinction.
I'm a psychotherapist. When I believed I was a woman, I wanted to get into this field. By the time I finally started working in this field, I was read as a man. (I'm transgender and nonbinary.) So now I'm seen as a man working in a female dominant profession. Which is interesting!
It breaks my heart to see helping and education professions at the bottom of the income pyramid. (With exceptions such as doctors and university lecturers). That's satisfying to think that, because AI is better with more numerical and techy processes, the more "feminine" helping and teaching professions become more valued. I hope so! It would definitely be nice to be more appreciated by the society.
Oh gosh I have a robo cleaner too, but I couldn't handle it at all. So I gave up and either did the cleaning myself, or hired a cleaner. I only live in a tiny basement studio unit, lol, and the robo cleaner couldn't even handle that, sigh.
Yes, it's so frustrating and disappointing how undervalued these fields still are. Both of my grandmothers required caregivers in the final years of their lives, and I saw firsthand how incredibly demanding, skilled, and emotionally exhausting that work is. If it was up to me, all social and care work would be among the highest paid, not the lowest.
If we are allowed and encouraged to do caring the way men do, I think mayhap we will get a positive response. But if there is only one proper way (the female way) we will never be anything other than second rate ersatz caregivers, and then most will probably opt out.
To zero in on just one of the many issues you addressed: you said that the number of male nurses has trippled in the last 20 years. Men have already started to displace women in this and many areas. Your optimism about women gaining leverage, respect, equity in the developing job market seems unfounded.
Katie, your articles are always gold but this one is *chef's kiss*. What a positive perspective on the future of work and feminist system design. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much, that means a lot!!
Such a great analysis of where we've gotten to as a society. The feminization of labor--pink collar jobs--began in the 1920s, at least in the U.S. It was understood that once these stenos and secretaries and teachers and nurses started having babies, they'd drop out of the market (and often were pushed out by company policies, mostly written by men, that saw women's place as being in the home).
Now, 100 years on, women can be found in C-suites and boardrooms, in governorships and in Congress, in courtrooms and in the hospital O.R. As vice president and, twice now, almost in the White House. And, lamentably, a belated recognition of the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution--too little, too late.
The pushback we're seeing today comes as blowback--that women are taking jobs and power away from men--and men feel marginalized. (Whether it's true that women are pushing men out or not is besides the point).
Beginning in the late 1960s, the women's movement played a big part in supporting policy and legislation to support women in stepping out--and the media also began portraying more empowered women. But there has been no corresponding movement to help men adapt and see themselves as important in this new world--and they don't know their "role" anymore, feeling devalued and useless. The push to erase DEI initiatives in government and industry is also a push to get women (and minorities) out of the workforce and back tending home and hearth (and babies and aging parents) "where they belong."
Unlike in past "waves" of feminism, however, many families don't have the luxury of one paycheck, and automation is just the newest threat.
Progress is always followed by blowback. Unfortunately, we're now in it. Unless men are supported for their contributions in this social shift, or some kind of guaranteed income and job retraining programs lay the foundation for those whose jobs are lost to automation, the situation may have to get worse before it gets better.
I wonder how you see the possibilities for supporting this shift, Katie?
Agree, social change can’t just be about opening doors for one group—it has to involve reimagining roles and structures for everyone else too.
I know that Germany, for instance, has implemented a program (the Mehr Männer in Kitas) to encourage more male educators in early childhood education as well as to improve the profession’s image. Sweden has also introduced retraining programs for men entering social care fields. Hopefully more of the world will introduce similar initiatives in the near future as well. It would certainly be a step in the right direction, for once.
"But there has been no corresponding movement to help men adapt and see themselves as important in this new world--and they don't know their "role" anymore, feeling devalued and useless." - exactly. Also men are proving resistant to adaptation, not least as "masculine" is primarily defined as not "feminine". Seeing women in powerful roles outside the home in TV, film etc, is clearly exciting for the girls and young women watching. Seeing men in caring and nurturing roles, inside or outside the home, is just less exciting for boys and young men to watch.
I agree, John. And boys need a different picture than girls--action-oriented not nurturing. Or action-oriented AND nurturing.
What if we brainstorm: how could we depict--through film, tv, social media, graphic novels and all the channels available to boys and young men--a positive, heroic, action-oriented vision for the "new boy" or "new man" for the 21st century and beyond? Where are the heroes saving the world against evil through acts of kindness, charity, caring, creating?
I bet there are some great creative minds here who can come up with ideas!
Or how about we just brought dads back? The awesome, strong AND caring dads that so many of us had back then. The ones who could change diapers, operate the washing machine, do the dishes, teach us how to fish and how to slide tackle, teach us how to talk to girls and what books to read, comfort us when we were scared and keep calm and confident when the world around us erupted in chaos. Maybe they didn't always kiss and hug us or tell us how much they loved us (mine did - but not all the others), instead they fixed our bikes when we had a flat tire, helped us pack our backpacks when we where going on hikes, stuck an extra fiver in our shirt pocket before a date, or said "I love you" in a million other ways with out saying the words.
How about we bring him back? Maybe he is never all of these things, but maybe he is some of them, and maybe he is trying, and sometimes he screws up, but don't we all?
"kindness, charity, caring, creating" - that's what men have been doing since the beginning of time, problem is we mostly don't recognize it as that anymore. When Superman or Capt. Murica "saves the world (as heroes do) is that not an act of kindness? And act of caring? When Jack sacrifices himself for Rose, or when all the men agreed to let women and children in the boats first, is that not an act of charity? Why did 20 million young men give their lives for "king and country"? Who are these "new heroes" we need. We have a fuck-ton (I don't know exactly how many this is, but I heard it is a lot) of genuine heroes to chose from already. How about we just let boys know that men are actually quite ok when you get down to it, and they do a lot of good in the world!
"Care work has always been human work. And one of the most, if not the most, important backbones of our society." yesssss! louder for those at the back!
Japan is using robots in senior care centers. the inhumanization, the demise of touch terrifies.
Because they have - not because they want to. Japanese birthrates are in a death spiral, at present Japan is selling more adult diapers than baby diapers. This is bound to happen in the rest of the (western) world as well, just give it time since we have below replacement birth rates
I am not blaming women or feminism for this. It is still a fact, a challenge and pretty bleak.
it is also because the wages for such work are not sustaining living.
I accept that as a partial premise, although according to C. M. Alcocer (Sciencespace.blog) this is changing: "The collective efforts of unions and professional organizations have significantly impacted nursing salaries in Japan. Through collective bargaining agreements and advocacy, nurses have been able to negotiate competitive salaries and benefits packages that reflect their skills and experience. Moreover, industry standards established by professional organizations provide a framework for fair compensation, ensuring that nurses are recognized for their contributions to the healthcare system."
Very insightful and futuristic = > we are working to enable women to drive auto taxis and see this as a care ride creating a separate niche segment ; it was very helpful to read your article as it gives clarity for our work and direction; also www.shecycles.in is an initiative i am launching to enable women to lead active mobility; your writings are wonderful and inspiring; keep writing and keep shining; https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2024/Jul/09/namma-yatris-mahila-shakti-program-helps-women-drivers-earn-rs-42-lakhs
Yes. Although it does look like we are going to try the alternative first, which is to have a temper tantrum and burn the whole world down.
Side note - if machines are more 'male' and AI tends to have the characteristics of its creators, might that mean that AI is more likely to kill us than if it were instead an extension of the feminine?
It's too bad because this piece is so positive and optimistic for our species, but I just don't know if men, or the wealthy and powerful (also men) are going to let it happen, or if they're going to insist on pushing us into a dystopia.
History certainly suggests that progress often comes with a lot of resistance (and, at times, violent destruction). But I try to remain hopeful that those temper tantrums, or AI, won't drive us towards complete extinction.
I'm a psychotherapist. When I believed I was a woman, I wanted to get into this field. By the time I finally started working in this field, I was read as a man. (I'm transgender and nonbinary.) So now I'm seen as a man working in a female dominant profession. Which is interesting!
It breaks my heart to see helping and education professions at the bottom of the income pyramid. (With exceptions such as doctors and university lecturers). That's satisfying to think that, because AI is better with more numerical and techy processes, the more "feminine" helping and teaching professions become more valued. I hope so! It would definitely be nice to be more appreciated by the society.
Oh gosh I have a robo cleaner too, but I couldn't handle it at all. So I gave up and either did the cleaning myself, or hired a cleaner. I only live in a tiny basement studio unit, lol, and the robo cleaner couldn't even handle that, sigh.
Yes, it's so frustrating and disappointing how undervalued these fields still are. Both of my grandmothers required caregivers in the final years of their lives, and I saw firsthand how incredibly demanding, skilled, and emotionally exhausting that work is. If it was up to me, all social and care work would be among the highest paid, not the lowest.
I enjoyed this article x thought provoking and hopeful!
Thanks!
I am not enormously hopeful of a positive response from us men, to the increasing proportion of caring related jobs.
If we are allowed and encouraged to do caring the way men do, I think mayhap we will get a positive response. But if there is only one proper way (the female way) we will never be anything other than second rate ersatz caregivers, and then most will probably opt out.
To zero in on just one of the many issues you addressed: you said that the number of male nurses has trippled in the last 20 years. Men have already started to displace women in this and many areas. Your optimism about women gaining leverage, respect, equity in the developing job market seems unfounded.