ARTICLE - MEN IN WOMEN OCCUPATIONS

MORE MEN ENGAGING IN OCCUPATIONS OF WOMEN
(Defend Haiti) -

PORT-AU-PRINCE – Throughout the streets of the Haitian capital city, Port-au-Prince, men are engaging more frequently in trades or businesses traditionally practiced by women (fries, vegetables, pies, beauty product selling etc).

In recent years, poverty and economic difficulties have led men to engage more and more in activities or professions traditionally reserved for females.

Now that we find women involved in the spheres of activities previously attributed to men, men have taken the opposite path and thus we find them as sellers of used clothing (called Kennedy), of pies, cooked food, cosmetics, and other activities once considered "feminine" by Haitians.

Some do it for love, some by obligation, but all have one goal: "to give meaning to their daily life and hoping for a better life."

However, in a society as sexist as that of Haiti, it is not an easy task for a man. When asked by the agency Haiti Press Network in Port-au-Prince, people have said that they are despised by young men who made fun of their activities.

"Before, I worked in a bar. After my dismissal, I decided to sell cooked food on the streets. Because of this, many people take me for a gay. But to support my family I'm ready for anything," said Luke.

Jimmy, sells chips and pies on the streets. He explains: "When my mother got sick, I replaced it by selling pies every morning. Despite the ridicule of my friends, I am doing very well and I do not stop."

Two other cooked food vendors asked about the business deplore discrimination against them. "We hate this trade because some do not understand what we do, they treat us as they want. It bothers us, "said one of these sellers.

However, others say they are aware of the economic problem of the country and even claim they prefer food prepared by men and women.

But the phenomenon of men practicing trades attributed once to women can also be seen in the US. As the economy slowly recovers, a new trend shows that men are getting most new jobs – including some jobs traditionally considered “women’s work”, according to a report in USA Today.

The upcoming expiration of unemployment benefits may be a big reason why men are taking positions in the retail and service-related industries typically taken by women as they try to avoid dropping out of the workforce.

According to USA Today, hundreds of thousands of these men are working in retail and service-related jobs; as construction and other typically male-dominated industries continue to be slow.