Girl Fight: Do Women Look Down On Women In More Traditionally Female Jobs?

Jess: I got something to say to you man.

Julia: What?

Jess: I break for birds. I rock a lot of polka dots. I have touched glitter in the last 24 hours. I spend my entire day talking to children and I find it fundamentally strange that you are not a dessert person. That’s just weird and it freaks me out! And I’m sorry I don’t talk like Murphy Brown and I hate your pantsuit. I wish it had ribbons on it or something to make it just slightly cuter. And that doesn’t mean I’m not smart and tough and strong!

The above quote is from a recent  episode of the Fox comedy New Girl. Zooey Deschanel’s character, Jess, who is a teacher tries to befriend her roommates new girlfriend, Julia, a lawyer (played by Lizzy Caplan.) Julia really becomes mad at her new love interest Nick but she takes it out on Jess. Their argument is comical to say the least but it brought up some interesting points. Julia feels threatened by Jess for a number of reasons but it comes out as an attack on Jess’s profession.

Julia: I know that I’m the mean lawyer girl who wears suits and works too much. And you, you’re the really fun teacher girl with all the colorful skirts who bake things…If I acted the way that you act when I was at work, no one would listen to me.

Jess: Well if I acted like you at work my students would turn in really weird, dark dioramas.

Though this is hilarious, it brings up the fundamental question of do women in more male-dominated jobs like law and finance look down on women that have gone into fields that women have always gone into like education and nursing? Do they view these women in more traditionally female jobs as weak?

Rebecca Nash is a photographer and worked in early childhood education. She told The Grindstone:

“While working as an early childhood educator I experienced some very interesting reactions from other women. There were women who admired what I did for the patience, creativity, and care I demonstrated daily, however, other women treated me with pity or (for lack of a different word) disgust. The were definitely those who looked at me as a ‘glorified babysitter’ and view the work in a similar way as many regarded a maid many decades ago. It often felt as if they felt bad for someone who could achieve nothing more than a ‘babysitting’ job and acted as if it was a demeaning job.

Since the change of position from ECE to Owner and Photographer of my own company, I have found that the treatment I receive from other women has changed. I don’t get the same reactions anymore. Now I more often than not am met with curiosity, admiration, and respect from women all around from the Work at home moms to the career executives.

This seems to answer the question of whether there is a difference in the treatment of women in more traditional roles by women in general. The are two groups and two different ways of thinking but unfortunately the respect that should be there for everyone no matter the job isn’t always present in our interactions.”