I know I am am expecting a kicking but really I have to let this out

[Ormirian]

Open evening at college. It's an excellent college, one of the top in the UK. Loads of opportunities. We had a look around and then listened to a talk from the principal. At one point she was showing a presentation of the facilities and asking if there was anyone here interested in this or that subject area.

"Auto engineering, who's thinking of that when they leave school?"

About 7 hands went up. All male.

"Beauty skills, or hair-dressing. Anyone here interested in those areas?"

10 hands went up. All female.

I know there is nothing wrong with either of those professions but it would be so refreshing if that hasn't been the case.

What is wrong with having your nails or hair done Blu? I agree it is depressing when little girls become obsessed with these things but I don't see anything wrong with creating a demand for beauty skills.

I wanted to be a mecanic when I was 15 but was told I couldn't by my mum, which is a huge shame because dh isn't that skilled with cars and I've gone off the idea now I'm older and I hate being cold so would not want to work as one now.

IKWYM, but then I know the college too LOL (and did beauty skills- and got banned from the technology block for distracting people with my short skirts)

No kicking here; I used to love turbo'ing a mini and wanted to weld but got laughed at for being a girl

(yes yes it me LOL)

Thinking on, Sis did her NNEB there and yes OK it was a few years ago but NONE of the boys who started survived year one.

DS1 wants to be a jewellery designer (IS a jewellery designer, does make some pocket money from it) gets quite a bit of stick about it at school.

'doubtless by someone who left college with some certificate in 'beauty

ahem! I have a decent qual in beuty skills (but you know what, never used it and cannot for the life of me remember what LMAO- just that it was highly regarded) and a degree in RE and Philosophy AND most of an MA.

(Looked it up, ITEC)

DS was quite impressed by the place santa. He's planning to do a GCSE in engineering so will be going one day a week from next year.

It's a bloody excellent college: served me well.

But it is very traditional as well.

On DH's course however, taught in an AT (Advanced Technology dept) it is 50% girls, all of whom must do soldering, rigging etc.

It IS improving.

I didn't take maths and science because I was crap at them.

I took languages because they were my strengths.

Nothing to do with gender.

I don't see it as a big deal. I know a male reception class teacher, female electrician etc-they do exist. Everyone has a free choice. I have absolutely no desire to a 'traditional male job' and so I don't see why I should pretend to make people feel better.

But why are they 'male jobs'? Why don't girls want to do them?

kylie was a mechanic in neighbours, does that count?

"obvious difference between the two being the relative pay scales."

Well yes. Exactly. The hairdressers might regret their choices when they realise they are still earning peanuts in 10yrs time.

ISNT - that's an interesting obervation as I too went an all girls school and I ended up in a male dominated profession as I was good at maths and science (electronic engineering in fact). But it's not all that way - these disciplines are often female led also. My older brother is an optometrist, but his Uni class was around 75% female. Same with Pharmacy. Medicine is about equal - slightly more females (but that's 'cos we do better at A levels).
Interesting thread though

It's an area that needs huge work from all of us - schools, colleges, careers advisors and parents

Gender stereotyping in the world of work still runs very deep, despite people's anecdotal evidence to the contrary. How many male nursery nurses or female motor mechanics do you know?

And it starts very early. This is why I get up on my soapbox about the horrible gender stereotyping in the toys and games industry. Go into Toys R Us and there is an aisle of fantastic 'doing' toys for boys (but alongside cars and trucks and diggers and 'boys' stuff). Then there is the fluffy, sparkly pink aisle for girls. Oh, or the odd toy kitchen or hoover

DH trained as a primary school teacher. But that's as far as the counter-intuitive anecdote goes because all the other men in his year were training for secondary.

Santa - re the college, I don't think it is very traditional, the intake is sadly.

For the less academic young people, it is even more of a problem.

I have worked in schools and colleges where they are literally a factory, churning out male construction/electrical engineering/sports and fitness students, and female hair and beauty / childcare students.

I find it very depressing that it largely goes unchallenged.

Automotive engineering is not always a less academic option - I have 2 degrees in it so always find it a bit galling when people assume that! However I am one of 2 female engineers at my work (over 200 male engineers). I agree we owe it to girls to highlight these male dominated professions as options as they are in general a lot more lucrative than traditional female professions and this contributes to the gender pay gap. We need to give our dds confidence to buck the trend and industry needs to promote science and engineering in schools - all girls (and boys) know what a hairdresser does but how many truly know what an engineer does (and guess what, contrary to popular belief I only get my hands dirty about once a month. You don't have to be a tomboy or particularly physically strong to do it - but you do have to look good in a hard hat and fluorescent jacket).

I did a plumbing course when I was 21 for 6 months and hated it.. last year I did beauty therapy course and loved it. Are you suggesting they would be happier doing what you think is the politicallly correct option for them rather than giving them credit to make their own choices?

@ wifedoom.

I certainly wasn't suggesting that automotive engineering is for the less academic. But I do think the less academic children are the ones who lose out most from gender stereotyping in the world of work, iyswim.

No wintersnow. Just because you hated plumbing and loved beauty therapy doesn't mean that every woman will. I just wonder how many of those girls were really given any encouragement to do anything other than this because it's 'what girls do'.

my youngest sister works in a trade

she regrets it, the amount of crap she gets on building sites (they assume she's health and safety or something at first, apprently - or sometimes a project manager etc)... but she earns a very very nice wage and isn't qualified to professional level in anything else

she plans to set up her own company as soon as she can to get away from the massive drawbacks such a gender divide has,

i think it's sad state of affairs basically.

Not to mention, as has been said already, they will almost certainly earn a great deal less in that career.

I expect it's more likely the case that they felt they would enjoy it more than auto engineering.