Doing 'women's work'?: men, masculinity and caring

[Extract] In this chapter we explore some of the issues concerning men working in the human services. It is an area that has traditionally been seen as women's work and there has been a significant gendered pattern of employment (see Christie 1998). Men are clustered in certain areas of practice and in particular positions such as management. This is not a new phenomenon and has been a major issue of debate in the last 35 years (see Lawrence 1965; Walton 1975; Camilleri 1996; Christie 1998). In addressing these issues, we examine the labour force participation in the community service sector; the issues of gender in the construction of 'care' (in particular how patriarchal discourse has structured the possibilities of men's and women's work); and issues and contradictions of men who remain in direct practice.

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Working with men in the human services

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978-1-86508-480-0

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248