Pink-collar workers participate in fields like childcare,
primary education, and beauty that have historically and currently been
dominated by women. Learn about the development of American pink-collar
employment.
How Do Pink-Collar Jobs Work?
Work that is classified as "pink-collar" is typically
performed by women, including school teachers, housekeepers, and florists.
Despite improvements in gender equality made by American society, the Bureau of
Labor Statistics still reports that women hold the majority of traditional
pink-collar jobs.
In the 1970s, social critic Louise Kapp Howe coined the
phrase "pink collar" to describe occupations that the public
associates with women's work. Pink, which has long been associated with women
in society, increases the visibility of female employees while also feeding
into gender norms.
The Evolution of Pink-Collar Jobs
The development of pink-collar work in the US dates back to
World War II and is still evolving.
1. World War II: During World War II, women in the US began
to join the workforce in large numbers. Women worked in factories to produce
parts for the war while men were serving overseas. Men returned home after the
war, which marked the start of suburban sprawl and the birth of the baby
boomers.
2. Second-wave feminism: After the war, some women kept up
their domestic responsibilities. Others took part in the second-wave feminist
campaigns of the 1960s, which promoted, among other things, greater employment
opportunities and equal pay.
3. Gender roles: Pink-collar jobs began to become more
prevalent as more women enrolled in college and looked for employment, even
though the pay was still lower than that of their male counterparts.
Pink-collar jobs reinforced gender roles because they allowed women to pursue
careers as kindergarten teachers, flight attendants, and waitresses because society
viewed them as matronly caregivers.
4. Workplace equality: Women's rights in and outside of the
workplace continue to be contentious social issues, raising awareness of
workplace injustices and making it easier for women to find jobs with equal
pay. Today, there are a lot of women working as senior-level executives,
secretaries, doctors, lawyers, and other types of professionals. A lot of women
work in science and robotics, two fields in the STEM fields.
Examples of Pink Collar Jobs: Careers with a Predominance of Women
Pink-collar occupations, such as those in the service and
caregiving sectors, are frequently low-paying and predominately held by women.
positions where women predominate include:
1. Beauticians
2. Daycare teachers
3. Dental assistants
4. Flight attendants
5. Florists
6. School teachers
7. Hair stylists
8. Home decorators
9. Housekeepers
10. Interior designers
11. Maids
12. Nurses
13. Servers
14. Social workers
15. Teachers
Pink-Collar Jobs vs. Blue-Collar Jobs vs. White-Collar Jobs
Jobs with pink collars, blue collars, and white collars differ
in a number of ways. The following characteristics set these job
classifications apart:
1. Dress code: According to gender stereotypes, the color
pink is associated with women, while the color blue is associated with men.
These hues additionally distinguish between employees' genders in job
classifications. Consequently, the term "pink-collar" refers to
occupations that are predominately held by women. Since these workers typically
work on construction sites or in fields, the term "blue-collar jobs"
refers to the color of the clothing they wear, which is typically darker, such
as denim, which won't easily show stains and mud. White button-down shirts are
the uniform of white-collar workers at offices.
2. Pay: In general, pink-collar jobs pay less than those held by white-collar employees. White-collar employees typically receive a salary or payment on a per-project basis, while blue-collar employees are typically paid on an hourly basis. White-collar jobs have traditionally provided more opportunities for advancement.
3. Work environment: Blue-collar jobs are typically performed outside, whereas pink-collar jobs, such as nurses and teachers, are performed indoors in hospitals, schools, daycares, and other female-dominated work environments. White-collar jobs are more specialized and are typically performed in an office setting (though some white-collar jobs, like a real estate agent, can require client meetings outside of the office environment). Physically, white-collar jobs are less demanding than pink-collar and blue-collar jobs. Men and women can now work in pink-collar or blue-collar jobs, though gender stereotypes still exist, and both types of jobs pay less than white-collar jobs.
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