When talking about caregiving jobs, whether paid or unpaid, professional or personal, you probably picture a woman. From tending to family members to working as a nurse, caregiving roles often bear a distinctly feminine image. Is providing care services indeed a gender-specific task? Certainly not. So, why do women make up 81% of all caregivers? This stereotypical relationship between the film industry and women has burdened women with the “caregiver role,” preventing them from pursuing other, often more rewarding, career opportunities.
A survey by the Economics and Statistics Department in Thiruvananthapuram, India, found that 10.34% of women couldn’t choose their desired job due to their partner’s objections, and 16.85% were discouraged by other family members. The study shows that the traditional ‘caregiver role’ imposed on women often stops them from pursuing well-paying jobs.
Beyond film industry and women: The feminisation of care work
Traditionally, women dominate ‘caring’ roles such as nursing in healthcare, with up to 80% in India being nurses and midwives and only 29% being doctors. 90% of the staff in the National Health Service, particularly in nursing, midwifery, and health visitor positions, are women. Moreover, as reported in 2021 by Boardroom Insiders, women hold only 22% of top tech positions like CIOs, CTOs, and CISOs.
Despite more women graduating from medical school than men, they are still underrepresented in highly skilled roles such as surgery. In the private hospital sector, women hold about 25-30% of leadership roles, while in pharmaceuticals and biotech, it’s only 5-10%. Women are also underrepresented in sales, marketing, and operations. Although they make up 40-50% of entry-level positions, this drops to 15-20% in senior roles.
Is it because women are naturally better at caring, or have we accepted this outdated notion to pigeonhole women into low-paying jobs? However, this isn’t to say that caregiving lacks importance compared to other careers or that no women enjoy these roles. However, we must not overlook the societal and cultural pressures pushing women into caregiving. These pressures have, unsurprisingly, kept women from reaching leadership positions.
Women seafarers in a male-dominated maritime industry
The maritime industry has a long history of being male-dominated. Efforts to promote women’s representation are ongoing, yet they make up only 29% of the general maritime workforce and 20% of national maritime authorities among member states. The number of female seafarers is notably lower, with women comprising just 2% of the approximately two million seafarers worldwide.
The low number of female seafarers shows that little effort has been made to encourage women to pursue careers at sea, partly due to the traditional male-dominated mindset in the industry. This historical bias that these jobs are exclusively for men and the absence of female role models have discouraged women from seriously considering this career path.
In certain countries, maritime education and training institutions are prohibited from recruiting women for nautical courses, a clear example of the barriers women face. Women often choose navigation over engineering courses, a choice influenced by societal expectations. Even after completing training, they may encounter bias from ship owners who refuse to hire them.
Traditional expectations often clash with women pursuing careers at sea, as society typically expects them to prioritise caregiving roles. Moreover, there’s a stigma that women in the shipping industry may struggle to find partners due to their extended periods away from home. The real issue they face today is the unfair pay gap. Data from a 2017 Maritime HR Association survey shows that women earn 45% less than men on average and hold only 7% of management positions.
Film industry and women working behind the scenes
When discussing women in the film industry, our thoughts typically turn to actresses on screen. It has been the predominant image of women in film. People often see them as glamorous actresses, makeup artists, or dance choreographers. And that’s it. Our view on women in the film industry usually stops there. Why? Historically, men dominate roles such as directors, cinematographers, stage production, and film musicians.
Even when a woman chooses to work as a stuntwoman, people often doubt her skills, asking, “Can she really do it?” It shows how gender bias and patriarchal attitudes still create obstacles for women. Despite these challenges, some women fight against these barriers. One such inspiring example is Hetal Dedhia, who became Bollywood’s first female gaffer, making history in a field typically dominated by men. The reason Hetal chose this profession? Because no woman was doing it.
Is it really just because no woman chose to do it? It could also be because women might not want to face constant judgement from society. We’ve grown up seeing being a gaffer as a man’s job because it involves lifting heavy cables and climbing scaffolding to set up lights.
In technical fields, women have been notably absent or severely underrepresented. There’s no such thing as a “spot girl” in these industries. Furthermore, women often find themselves pushed into editing roles within post-production, supposedly because editing rooms are considered safer and more accommodating for them.
The final thoughts
The stereotype of caregiving as a predominantly female role restricts women from pursuing higher-paying and more influential careers. The industry continues to underrepresent women in leadership positions across various sectors. These disparities reflect the patriarchal biases and cultural norms that prioritise caregiving roles for women, often at the expense of their career ambitions. To achieve genuine gender equality, it’s necessary to challenge these societal expectations and create a more equal and diverse workforce that allows women to excel in all fields, free from outdated gender stereotypes and biases.
Research sources
Gender differences in caregiving among family – caregivers of people with mental illnesses
WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT | NGO | CSR.
The Status of Women within the Maritime Sector
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the writer’s insights, supported by data and resources available both online and offline, as applicable. Changeincontent.com is committed to promoting inclusivity across all forms of content, which we define broadly to include media, policies, law, and history—encompassing all elements that influence the lives of women and gender-queer individuals. Our goal is to promote understanding and advocate for comprehensive inclusivity.
