Feminisation of the workplace
Encyclopedia
In response to the pressure from feminism
and cultural trends highlighting characteristics in workers which have culturally been associated with women, feminisation of the workplace is a label given to the trend towards greater employment
of women, and of men willing and able to operate with these more 'feminine' modes of interaction.
Drivers of this change are said to be the increase in socially interactive work such as telesales
, therapy
, personal services, caring professions and the like which have tended to place a premium on empathy
, listening and emotionally well-tuned responses.
These are the markers of the so-called feminisation: empathy, sociability, greater emotional engagement, a greater preference for non-confrontational interactions, emotional sensitivity.
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
and cultural trends highlighting characteristics in workers which have culturally been associated with women, feminisation of the workplace is a label given to the trend towards greater employment
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
of women, and of men willing and able to operate with these more 'feminine' modes of interaction.
Drivers of this change are said to be the increase in socially interactive work such as telesales
Telemarketing
Telemarketing is a method of direct marketing in which a salesperson solicits prospective customers to buy products or services, either over the phone or through a subsequent face to face or Web conferencing appointment scheduled during the call.Telemarketing can also include recorded sales pitches...
, therapy
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a general term referring to any form of therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained professional and a client or patient; family, couple or group...
, personal services, caring professions and the like which have tended to place a premium on empathy
Empathy
Empathy is the capacity to recognize and, to some extent, share feelings that are being experienced by another sapient or semi-sapient being. Someone may need to have a certain amount of empathy before they are able to feel compassion. The English word was coined in 1909 by E.B...
, listening and emotionally well-tuned responses.
These are the markers of the so-called feminisation: empathy, sociability, greater emotional engagement, a greater preference for non-confrontational interactions, emotional sensitivity.
See also
- Feminization (sociology)Feminization (sociology)In sociology, feminization is the shift in gender roles and sex roles in a society, group, or organization towards a focus upon the feminine. This is the opposite of a cultural focus upon masculinity....
- Feminization of laborFeminization of LaborThe feminization of labor is a term used to describe emerging gendered labor relations born out of the rise of global capitalism. For instance, manufacturing jobs are now considered women's work.-Globalization and female labor:...
- Women in the workforceWomen in the workforceUntil modern industrialized times, legal and cultural practices, combined with the inertia of longstanding religious and educational traditions, had restricted women's entry and participation in the workforce. Economic dependency upon men, and consequently the poor socio-economic status of women...