The U.S. workforce is divided almost equally between male and female personnel. Even though the conversation about the gender wage-gap and overall gender inequality in the workplace has been present in the media for more than a decade now, the research shows little change in these issues.
Photographer, Chris Crisman’s new book, Women’s Work addresses grim statistics from 2018, concluding that only 7.2% of women worked full-time in a male-dominated occupation (defined as less than 25% of staff being female).
Research suggests that 26 out of the 30 highest-paying jobs in the U.S. are male-dominated, whereas 23 of out 30 lowest-paying jobs are female-dominated. This austere statistic makes it harder for women to see themselves as high-earning individuals, setting a bad example for younger girls.
The book is a collection of portraits of women working in male-dominated fields. With stunning photography alongside personal essays, it delivers a refreshing and uplifting message that girls and women of any age need.
“I’ve always looked for a female mentor, someone to emulate, but I never had one growing up. I think girls more than boys tend to look for female role models – someone who proves, okay, I can do it, I can get it, and I wonder how I get there.”
– Yoky Matsuoka, vice president at Google
“Initially, when I went to apply for a job with Ford, the human resources person looked at my résumé and asked if I was applying for an engineering job. ‘Yes,’ I said, ‘is anything wrong with that?’ He remarked that they didn’t have any female engineers. I looked at him, smiles, and said, ‘Well, I am here. If you don’t give a chance, you will never have any.’”
– Damyanti Gupta, the first female engineer employed by Ford Motor Company
“I think what really bothers me is that so many women have it in their heads that they can’t work in fields like mine. Working around almost solely men can be daunting, and I think women feel as though they might not have a place here.”
– Jordan Ainsworth, gold miner
Crisman’s book is one of the inspirations for my FMP that features only female characters. I believe it’s important to keep the gender-inequality-in-workplace conversation moving forward.
Full article: https://www.fastcompany.com/90467073/this-photography-book-captures-the-pioneering-women-working-in-male-dominated-jobs
