What about the men? Gender parity in occupational therapy

BACKGROUND: Gender parity is frequently raised as an equity issue in occupational therapy, with strategies proposed to recruit more men. PURPOSE: This article explores whether this is a legitimate equity concern. KEY ISSUES: Most employment is gender segregated; when gender balances change, the field either re-genders feminine or creates gender-segregated internal divisions. Men avoid feminized jobs because they pay less and hold less social status. They are a "step down" for men. In such jobs, men are disproportionately pushed into management positions, with better pay, more prestige, and less hands-on care. Equity issues concern structural barriers to success in particular employment fields. Though they may feel discomfort in a feminized field, men do not face structural barriers in occupational therapy. IMPLICATIONS: Broader challenges to traditional gender norms are needed, but there is no evidence that gender parity is an equity concern or that recruitment targeting masculinity would make a difference.