Male and Female Professions: The Influence of Culture

Introduction

Cultural practices go a long way in influencing people’s views and beliefs on the difference in abilities between men and women, with effects that are far-reaching and inform career paths for most individuals. Due to the belief that there are distinctly different roles for men and women evident in most cultural setups, many individuals feel that career activities should follow these definitions. Accordingly, this essay discusses how cultural practices impact not only beliefs about cognitive ability differences between men and women but also choices about career activities.

Male and Female Professions: The Influence of Culture

Cultural practices have historically defined the perceived difference in cognitive abilities, alluding that men are better in some fields, whereas women excel in others. This deeply affects how people view careers. For instance, cultural practices have instilled a belief that boys are excellent in mathematics, while girls are incredible in languages (Halpern, 2012, p. 23). These claims shape the belief system in different cultures, and as such, children growing up in these societies embrace them and assume they are true. Early experiences, together with educational policies and the cultures to which kids are exposed, inform their interests and abilities in different subjects. In the long run, these beliefs translate into fewer women, compared to men, working or willing to work as scientists and engineers.

Research has been conducted on this matter before, and the resulting reports are intriguing, considering the outcomes in this area of interest. A report compiled by Hyde (2005) shows that sex differences have a minimal impact on verbal processing, understanding capacity, and communication capability. In this regard, it can be justified that men and women have equal aptitude in different subjects. Despite these findings, the number of women interested in careers related to languages outnumbers men significantly. According to Reilly et al. (2015), this is mainly a result of cultural practices that translate into beliefs and eventually into predetermined career paths based on perceived gender cognitive abilities.

The influence a given culture has on an individual's choice of a career path is significant. Cultural practices attach different meanings to careers, consequently determining how much value and worth are associated with a given profession. As such, cultural practices do not only enhance the perceived cognitive abilities different in men and women but also influence the choice of career (Bolles, 2019, p. 230). In some cultures, career choice does not have as much value attached to it and is not subject to discussion or thoughtful decision-making, but rather is predetermined following a set of assumptions. When young individuals in such cultures are faced with the question of career choice, they often do not know what to do and can hardly contextualize career choice for themselves without this influence.

I believe that the influence of cultural practices on the choice of careers for most people is trivial. For instance, from my interactions with my friend Wendy, both of her parents have taken career choices as predefined by culture. Her dad was interested in nursing but could not pursue it since he had grown up in a culture that referred to it as a more feminine career than masculine, and he ended up as a Mechanical Engineer. Wendy's mother had a keen interest in Civil Engineering pursuits but ended up in social work since her parents thought the latter a safer and more feminine job. This example illustrates how deeply ingrained cultural norms can prevent individuals from pursuing their true interests and talents.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this essay has provided insight into how cultural practices affect not only beliefs about cognitive ability differences between men and women but also preferences about career endeavors. It is evident that the firsthand experiences an individual has as life unfolds—from views, beliefs, and decisions—are majorly determined by cultural practices that define the different roles and abilities for men and women. The effect is far-reaching beyond the differences in cognitive abilities for men and women to the choice of career paths. Addressing these cultural biases is essential for creating a more equitable society where individuals can pursue careers based on their true interests and capabilities rather than predetermined cultural norms.

References

Bolles, R. N. (2019). What Color Is Your Parachute? 2020: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers. Ten Speed Press.

Halpern, D. F. (2012). Sex Differences in Cognitive Abilities (4th ed.). Psychology Press.

Hyde, J. S. (2005). The Gender Similarities Hypothesis. American Psychologist, 60(6), 581-592. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.60.6.581

Reilly, D., Neumann, D. L., & Andrews, G. (2015). Gender Differences in Spatial Ability: Implications for STEM Education and Approaches to Reducing the Gender Gap for Parents and Educators. SpringerPlus, 4(1), 1-20. doi:10.1186/s40064-015-1574-6