The first of our weekly โThe Trouble With…โ columns, this week looking at being a man in a female-dominated profession.
Thoughts from Colin Brouwer-Ince, assistant to John Palmer, director of communications and public affairs at Sheffield Hallam University
โI am often asked, as a male PA, about my relationship with my boss and how that has developed. I am also often asked whether my sexuality a key factor. It is the (correct) perception that men in this role are still rare, given that I believe that we still only make up around 5% of the profession?
I often reply that you have to remember that until the early 20th century it was a predominantly male role, and even these days, heads of Government departments are still called secretaries (a male term). Prime Ministerโs assistants are also known as private secretaries.
Some countries are a little slower in recognising this fact, though, and I believe that it wasnโt until early 2011 that the White House appointed its first male social secretary.
I have worked for more women than men. I have only had three male bosses, including my current one. The only difference is the relationship you build up with them and their partners. Women find their husband having a young and attractive (as I was in the 80s!) male PA less of a threat than a young attractive woman. This was something that the wives of both my previous bosses have admitted to me.
Theirs is an attitude that has changed much since the publication of a disparaging article in April 1964 in “Todayโs Secretary” entitled “Man With a Notebook” about men in secretarial jobs. The woman who wrote it showed really appalling sexist thinking and language at that time. They are views that these days would not and should not be tolerated or agreed with.
Though sexuality shouldnโt be an issue it can be. In fact one boss still refers to me as GPA. Itโs not politically correct, but as a private joke we enjoy it and it is amusing how long it sometimes takes for people to work it out – you see them mentally going through the list, secretary, PA, EAโฆ
However, chauvinism is still around, when working for women the assumption often is I am boss because I am a male. Suffering from chauvinistic comment and attitudes is prevalent. Weirdly, being a man, I think I suffer it less than some of my female colleagues. I think men tend to think twice when being chauvinistic towards another male.
Women can be much crueller when being chauvinistic, and much more so towards a man since people expect men to be harder and more resilient. Women can also be quick to be dismissive or derisory. Have I experienced this myself? Yes, twice, both in major, multinational firms.
But I still love the job, and in any situation it is down to your abilities and personality to prevent the problems with being a male PA becoming a larger issue.โ
โI am often asked, as a male PA, about my relationship with my boss and how that has developed. I am also often asked whether my sexuality a key factor. It is the (correct) perception that men in this role are still rare, given that I believe that we still only make up around 5% of the profession?
I often reply that you have to remember that until the early 20th century it was a predominantly male role, and even these days, heads of Government departments are still called secretaries (a male term). Prime Ministerโs assistants are also known as private secretaries.
Some countries are a little slower in recognising this fact, though, and I believe that it wasnโt until early 2011 that the White House appointed its first male social secretary.
I have worked for more women than men. I have only had three male bosses, including my current one. The only difference is the relationship you build up with them and their partners. Women find their husband having a young and attractive (as I was in the 80s!) male PA less of a threat than a young attractive woman. This was something that the wives of both my previous bosses have admitted to me.
Theirs is an attitude that has changed much since the publication of a disparaging article in April 1964 in “Todayโs Secretary” entitled “Man With a Notebook” about men in secretarial jobs. The woman who wrote it showed really appalling sexist thinking and language at that time. They are views that these days would not and should not be tolerated or agreed with.
Though sexuality shouldnโt be an issue it can be. In fact one boss still refers to me as GPA. Itโs not politically correct, but as a private joke we enjoy it and it is amusing how long it sometimes takes for people to work it out – you see them mentally going through the list, secretary, PA, EAโฆ
However, chauvinism is still around, when working for women the assumption often is I am boss because I am a male. Suffering from chauvinistic comment and attitudes is prevalent. Weirdly, being a man, I think I suffer it less than some of my female colleagues. I think men tend to think twice when being chauvinistic towards another male.
Women can be much crueller when being chauvinistic, and much more so towards a man since people expect men to be harder and more resilient. Women can also be quick to be dismissive or derisory. Have I experienced this myself? Yes, twice, both in major, multinational firms.
But I still love the job, and in any situation it is down to your abilities and personality to prevent the problems with being a male PA becoming a larger issue.โ
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