Discrimination against men in employment

Active prejudice towards men by employers
Prejudicial treatment of male workers

Nature

Discrimination against recruiting men for occupations of low status or with low pay or with few promotion prospects arises because such occupations are conventionally considered more suitable for women. Dirty or dangerous jobs, felt to be unsuitable for women, will be allocated to men. In developed countries women and male immigrant workers share a large proportion of the most menial and worst-paid jobs. Recruitment for occupations traditionally regarded as 'women's work': secretarial, nursing, teaching and social work, may exclude male applicants; where formerly skilled trades can be turned over to keyboard-style machines, women will be employed in preference since they are relatively cheap labour.

Incidence

Discrimination against men in employment manifests in various sectors, with studies indicating that men may face biases in hiring, promotion, and workplace culture. For instance, a 2019 survey by the UK-based charity, the Men's Health Forum, revealed that 40% of men felt they had been discriminated against in the workplace due to their gender. Geographically, this issue is reported across multiple countries, with notable instances in industries traditionally dominated by women, such as nursing and education, where men may encounter skepticism regarding their capabilities.
A concrete example occurred in 2020 in Canada, where a male applicant was denied a teaching position in a primary school due to the school's policy favoring female candidates to promote gender balance. This incident sparked discussions about gender bias in hiring practices, highlighting the challenges men face in securing roles in female-dominated professions.

Claim

Men should have flexible hours to help care for new-born children, men should be able to retire at the same age as women, and women should be allowed to have more dirty or dangerous jobs. Male office workers should be allowed to wear what they want, with neckties being abolished during warm weather.

Counter-claim

Discrimination against men in employment is often overstated and largely a myth. The focus on gender equality has led to significant advancements for women, while men continue to dominate most industries and leadership roles. Claims of bias against men distract from real issues, such as the need for equitable treatment across all demographics. Instead of fostering division, we should celebrate progress and work together to ensure fairness for everyone, regardless of gender.