Men with an immigrant background break out of stereotypes and take educations traditionally considered women's Secretaries, hairdressers, and day-care centre workers are still largely considered the domain of women, despite more than thirty years of women's liberation. Vocational schools find however, that men with an immigrant background are willing to buck tradition and take an education in these fields.
A recent study found that 34 percent of men with an immigrant background attending vocational schools were enrolled in study programmes dominated by women. Only 17 percent of ethnic Danish men choose the same study route.
The trend surprised Lars Larsen of LG Insight, the company that conducted the study.
'We had an expectation that men with other ethnic backgrounds would seek out traditional positions and be somewhat macho. But the men with the least education have another approach. Instead of choosing craftsmen subjects, they choose to work with people instead,' said Larsen.
The young men with an immigrant background might have an easier time negotiating male ideals of work, because they have a difficult time finding employment, said Kenneth Reinicke at the Danish Research Centre on Gender Equality at Roskilde University.
'But that makes them more innovative,' said Reinicke. 'These young men go in and see new possibilities instead of being limited by traditional beliefs about what a real man can work with.'
The untraditional career choice could give bonuses in the form of career advancement, said Reinicke.
'Men in women-dominated professions experience an elevator effect. Managers believe they should be transported through the system,' he said.
Source: Jyllands Posten (English)
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