Dear Jay:

A couple of observations:

1. Examine *where* the men are in the staff; the majority of museum
directors are male.  The vast majority. (I'm sure someone out there from AAM
knows the figure - are we up to 10% female directors yet?)  Males tend to be
concentrated at the top end of the power/pay scale.

2. Most low-paying, low-status professions are inhabited primarily by women,
from nursing to teaching to museum work.  Probably the only museum positions
which carry social status are director and curator; I'd bet dollars to
donuts that you'll find quite different gender ratios in those jobs than in
all of museums.

In conclusion, it is my firm belief you are not at a disadvantage due to
your gender.

best,
Jill R. Chancey, Curator
Lauren Rogers Museum of Art
Laurel, MS
(phone) 601-649-6374
(fax) 601-649-6379



> ------------------------------
>
> Date:    Wed, 20 Nov 2002 09:43:31 -0600
> From:    Jay Heuman <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Question regarding "E.O.E."
>
> Hello Museum-Lers,
>
> As a "White (non-Hispanic) Male" - sometimes "Caucasian" - I perceive
> that I am in the minority when it comes to museum employment.  In
> reviewing the staff web pages on several museum web sites, I see the
> ratio of women to men goes from equal - 1 to 1 - to very unequal - 4 to
> 1, in one case 6 to 1.  (I can't tell about other E.O.E.
> classifications.)
>
> So, my questions:
>
>         Is this a false perception?
>         Am I missing something in the bigger picture?
>         Are men a minority in museum work?
>         If men are in a minority, what do you believe contributes to this?
>
> Truly, I'm not looking to initiate a new round in the "blame game"; I'm
> just trying to figure out how to find a job where I can use the
> education and experience I have so far managed to acquire.
>
> Sincerely,
> Jay Heuman

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