Why is public health a female-dominate field?

[123hardasABC]

I noticed in class profiles that most programs are female-dominate. I'm curious; why is that?

[juilletmercredi]

1) It is a helping profession, and helping professions that aren't high-pay or high-prestige (like medicine) tend to be female-dominated.

 

2) It is low-paying, or at least relative to other professions.  Some may argue that it's low-paying because it's female-dominated, but it may also be female-dominated because it's low-paying; men sometimes tend to gravitate towards higher-paying fields for a variety of reasons.

[holykrp]

Think of your stereotypes, and there's your answer. I'm a woman and a feminist so I'm cringing typing this, but here we go:

 

1. Like the above poster says, women tend to go into "nuturing" professions more often than men, who tend to prefer careers where they can earn the most.

 

2. Most public health disciplines require "soft" skills. It is a cultural trend that are discouraged from learning math and science when they are younger, or at least less encouraged than men are. That means that their male counterparts may go into more science or math heavy professions.

 

3. Because of cultural pressures, men are much more concerned with being perceived as a good provider. Depending on the discipline, public health can pay well, but won't pay as much as a physician/surgeon/lawyer/etc.

 

4. Women are still largely responsible for household and childcare responsibilities. Because of this, they tend to take on education and career paths that require less schooling and less demanding schedules. So a woman in a marriage with traditional gender roles may decide to go to graduate school, but an MPH will take much less time than an MD or JD. Then, upon graduation, the workload will require less hours in the office, so she has time to take care of household responsibilities. The man, however, would not be so concerned with those issues, and would go on to pursue the level of education that would pay him the most.

[♀HealthMatters]

Oh, silly me, I hope I don't break a nail or smudge my lipstick getting my third advanced degree. I hear men don't like to marry girls with so many thoughts in their pretty little heads. 

[holykrp]

Oh, silly me, I hope I don't break a nail or smudge my lipstick getting my third advanced degree. I hear men don't like to marry girls with so many thoughts in their pretty little heads. 

 

What are you replying to? No one on this thread has said anything that indicates women are not capable of critical thinking. My response clearly outlines that any general sexist reason would be due to societal pressures and not the inherent intellect level of women. I don't think the OP is being sexist at all, just curious as to why it is a more female-dominated profession. Joe's does not indicate why women gravitate toward nurturing professions (or what they are calling "helping and low pay" professions), so maybe that is what you're replying to.

 

The reason is because that is what we are told we are conditioned to be "nurturing." (Not just through what we are told growing up, but we are also directed in our play to take care of others; baby dolls, toy kitchens, etc. Additionally, girls in general are not encouraged as much toward the math and science professions. Luckily for me, my mom made me start learning math at a young age.)

 

The reason men gravitate toward higher paying positions is because they are similarly conditioned to be providers.

 

Another consideration is many individuals who get MPHs either come into the program with other degrees, like MDs, or end up acquiring other advanced degrees. It then stands to reason that either these women are either naturally more altruistic, more concerned about public health, or because they have been conditioned to be more nurturing. Which is obviously up for debate. 

[AlphacentauriC]

Good question. I agree with everything said by posters above. Another way to ask the question is why are there few women in other programs? For example, the MBA program that i'm completing from a top tier university right now only has few women in it, 5%! Again, the reason is what was explained by posters above.

 

As for the females in public health, that is also one of my concern really, in terms of whether when I turn in my PhD/DrPH application in the fall of 2016, if I will get in or not, given that the admission committees seem to be receptive to women. I think by view is warped, perhaps the programs I have looked at, there are more women there, as someone above already said, because more women apply to these programs.

[AlphacentauriC]

Oh, silly me, I hope I don't break a nail or smudge my lipstick getting my third advanced degree. I hear men don't like to marry girls with so many thoughts in their pretty little heads. 

You raise valid questions. It is no hyperbole that men are afraid of successful, well educated women. I think as a women advances in her career/education, the pool of men not intimidated by her shrinks. Only men at the same level with the successful women, or above her, would not be intimidated.

 

That said, I have never been intimidated by successful women with advanced degrees. Perhaps it is because, I always knew I will become level with them or even better. If didn't know that, yep....I would shake in boots the moment I see a successful woman, sweating like a pig on our first date! I guess it is what it is !

[IntriguedStudent]

Oh, silly me, I hope I don't break a nail or smudge my lipstick getting my third advanced degree. I hear men don't like to marry girls with so many thoughts in their pretty little heads. 

 

 

You raise valid questions. It is no hyperbole that men are afraid of successful, well educated women. I think as a women advances in her career/education, the pool of men not intimidated by her shrinks. Only men at the same level with the successful women, or above her, would not be intimidated.

 

That said, I have never been intimidated by successful women with advanced degrees. Perhaps it is because, I always knew I will become level with them or even better. If didn't know that, yep....I would shake in boots the moment I see a successful woman, sweating like a pig on our first date! I guess it is what it is !

 

I guess I'm the exception then. My wife makes almost twice my current salary, and will likely always make more than me (public health isn't known to be an exceptionally lucrative field   ). I will probably end up with a more advanced degree than her (she's in business), but that's of her own choosing and I don't view success by degree level anyways. If she decides she wants to continue on and get an advanced degree, I would fully support her. I personally love having a successful and intelligent wife. 

[holykrp]

I guess I'm the exception then. My wife makes almost twice my current salary, and will likely always make more than me (public health isn't known to be an exceptionally lucrative field   ). I will probably end up with a more advanced degree than her (she's in business), but that's of her own choosing and I don't view success by degree level anyways. If she decides she wants to continue on and get an advanced degree, I would fully support her. I personally love having a successful and intelligent wife. 

 

 

You raise valid questions. It is no hyperbole that men are afraid of successful, well educated women. I think as a women advances in her career/education, the pool of men not intimidated by her shrinks. Only men at the same level with the successful women, or above her, would not be intimidated.

 

That said, I have never been intimidated by successful women with advanced degrees. Perhaps it is because, I always knew I will become level with them or even better. If didn't know that, yep....I would shake in boots the moment I see a successful woman, sweating like a pig on our first date! I guess it is what it is !

 

Any man who is afraid of a successful woman does not deserve to be with that woman; and I'd recommend all women steer clear of him as well! The reason its intimidating to some men is that they believe so strongly that they should have the "upper hand" and be the "bread winner" and "decision maker." It doesn't come from a place of wanting an equal and supportive relationship. Honestly, I don't even see why someone would want to be with another person who isn't at a similar level of success and intelligence. Sounds like a boring relationship full of a lot of housework and head nodding for someone.

 

Good for you IntriguedStudent! The world needs men like you.