Men Studying "Female" Professions in Quebec

• Published in: The International journal of interdisciplinary social and community studies (Print) Vol. 12; no. 3; pp. 41 - 52
• Main Authors: Labra, Oscar, Bergheul, Saïd, Turcotte, Pierre
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Champaign Common Ground Research Networks 2017
• Subjects: Academic disciplines; Assimilation; College students; Content analysis; Educational programs; Empathy; Gender; Helping professions; Males; Medical education; Men; Nurses; Professional identity; Professional training; Professions; Social work; Canada; Quebec Canada
• ISSN: 2324-7576; 2324-7584
• DOI: 10.18848/2324-7576/CGP/v12i03/41-51

The article aims to identify the motivations, obstacles and positive reference points characterizing the program choices of male students studying in social work, nursing, and special-needs education of the Université du Quebec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue. The testimonies of male participants, collected through individual semi-directed interviews and subjected to thematic content analysis, show that the motivations behind their choices of university disciplines are varied and multifactorial. The study also suggests that the main factors accounting for low male enrollment in the three programs considered are the historical role of gender in the helping professions and the so-called lack of emotional empathy in men. Furthermore, the study indicates that the positive reference points guiding the development of male students” professional identity over the course of their university education differ according to program. The results point to a further need to study the reality of men pursuing female-dominated disciplines and to promote men’s assimilation into these professions within an impartial approach to gender.