Hi Jill and others, I appreciate the commentary submitted to date, and expect there are countless others who many contribute their thoughts on the issue. I have seen these two themes repeated: (1) Men are in higher-status positions; women are in lower-status positions; and, (2) Museums pay poorly, so single people and married women take these jobs. I, as a single guy, have chosen to pursue a career in museums. I am perfectly satisfied to start - where I've started - almost at the bottom. But, at some point, I'd like to shift into a more satisfying entry-level job from where I might move upward in 'baby steps'. > 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. Yes, this is true based on my perceptions. However - and this is the key, about which nobody has commented: How does a man make it NOT as a director, but as Joe Average? LOL! I'm not aiming to go from zero to director. I'm in an entry-level-ish kind of job . . . but not doing what I want to be doing. So, how do I go about shifting into an entry-level job I would find more satisfying when everyone in the museum community seems infected with the notion that such jobs are for women? I abhor gender- and sexually-based stereotyping, and I don't care if someone thinks less of me for taking 'baby steps' in my professional development. After all, an BA and MA means you've learned something - but not everything! > 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. And so, what about those men who don't give a rip about getting a cushy high-status job? Whatever "averages" and "norms" exist, exist because people perpetuate them . . . and have an impact on individuals. I'm an individual who feels trapped - and offended by - this seemingly traditional perception that men go after high-paying, high-status museums jobs (such as director and curator) as if blind to the reality of qualifications, experience and seniority. > In conclusion, it is my firm belief you are not at a > disadvantage due to your gender. As I've indicated above, I believe I am at a disadvantage because I'm NOT aiming for instant promotion to "director" or "curator" status. I'm aiming for one of those "low-paying, low-status" entry-level jobs from which I might take a small step up . . . and a few years later another small step up, etc. [Obviously, I'm setting aside for the moment the main, nefarious factor in hiring: "Who you know, not what you know." As I know nobody, it has negative influence on my chances. Sad, but true. Can you tell I'm experiencing a "blue funk" and increasingly disillusionment? For unlike the recent graduate who write in "I need a job," I'm fast becoming a seasoned veteran with no clue about how to get where I want to go.] Sincerely, Jay Heuman ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).