Jobs and Gay Stereotypes

[harker]

I've always been interested in the demographic of jobs and the gay community.

Reading some of the comments for this group I see that many of us agree that this group tends to go against the stereotype of the 'average' gay guy. So it got me thinking about the job front.

I tend to find that, according to the stereotype, there's certain jobs that gay guys tend to flock to. I'm not saying that the stereotype is true, but it just seems that way. For example, I tend to hear about many gay guys who work in call centres.

Anyway, being someone who works as a computer programmer, I rarely meet other gay guys in my industry. This isn't a problem of course, as I am comfortable mixing with those straights despite their strange ways :p . Most of my friends are straight at any rate.

So I'm interested in what everyone else does for a living. Do you have many gay colleagues? Does it matter to you etc.

For me, it doesn't really matter as much because I have so much in common with my colleagues. We are interested in the same geeky books/movies/show etc. Hmm... So I fit into two stereotype categories. So we have heaps to talk about. It's also interesting to discover common interests outside if that IT stereotype, e.g. performing etc.

So anyway, what are your thoughts?

[lostinthearc]

Browsing lots of gaydar profiles, it seems that chefs and hairdressers are somewhat over-represented.

I'm not stereotypical gay at all. Probably the complete opposite. Love engineering, electronics, and programming that involves heavy number crunching. Hate arty fart stuff as a waste of time and space (i've mellowed *slightly* on that front, it depends on what field it is). Hate greenies (i'm for conservation, but not a 'greenie'). Love all things nuclear (except the waste). Rarely get out to meet new people (i've improved a bit on that front lately). Self employed.

The one thing that does have a gay side is high creativity. I see all the stuff i do as having an artistic component in an engineering sense.

[harker]

Hehe.

Well I don't mind 'arty farty' stuff. Perform in non-professionally theatre in my spare time. There's certain aspects of the arts world and many gay guys in theatre that absolutely kill me. However, I do love it. It's good to see that there are other points of view out there though.

I agree with you about the creativity thing though. I certainly think that a programmer who can't think creatively is just a code monkey. I actually don't even know how they survive. Sometimes you're hit with a problem that requires some true creativity to work your way out of.

[lostinthearc]

I have come to realize that there is some element of engineering design to many artistic expressions, and that they exist to fulfill a purpose. It's the really pointless stuff that irks me.

[d_fiant]

I don't think of myself as anything close to stereotypically gay. I have in the past worked with animals, worked in a bar, have been a night filler in a supermarket, been a deprtment manager in a supermarket, worked as a pawn broker and I now am a manager in a service station....well a petrol station, you won't get service from me ;-) lol.

I do work with a couple of gays and a couple of lesbians, but I don't see my working relationships with gays, lesbians and straights as being any different.

I can't think of anything sterotypically gay that might 'identify' me as gay...I hate Kylie and Madonna...i love Dead kennedys and Anti-Flag. I would rather a beer in a pub than a night in a gay bar/club. I say 'Mate' a lot, I swear like a trooper and love the C word, I hate fashion and labels and prefer to shop for clothes at kmart, best and less etc.I love watching V8 motorsport and cricket.

OH! I got one....I colour my hair lots...but I don't spend more than 10 seconds styling it and haven't combed my hair in about 15 years.

[doctor007]

I'm studying Medicine on the Gold Coast, and was shocked to learn a lot of the staff - including the physicians who teach there - are gay men and women. One of the physicians told me he thought it was because health is an industry of care, but I don't really buy into that. Of course I care for people (you're a jerk if you don't), but I'm studying medicine to be a surgeon - because I like the mechanics of fixing someone. Care is honestly not my motivation.
Surgery is definately still a real boys club, and not at all a stereotypical job for a gay guy like me.

[andrewc]

I work in the mining industry as a Commercial Analyst (similar to an accountant but focused on the customer).

I am not out at work mainly because of within my first weeks derogatory comments were made, not offensive and not directed at me. The other reason however is that my workplace whilst friendly, is not personal. People rarely talk about thier personal lives, and I haven't been asked once during that time if I am in a relationship, let alone gay. I am sure some suspect, but nothing has been said and frankly they pay me to work! How I spent my time outside the office has nothing to do with them!

I suppose my stance is that your sexual identity should not and has no relevance in the workplace. Where the lines blur is when you begin to spend time outside of work with colleagues.

[Marc]

I originally studied Agriculture, went on to do a post grad in Agri-business. I had my own company in NZ in the agricultural contracting area and moved onto project management in agri-horti-cultural developments for investor owned enterprises. Mostly a rural and outback existence developing huge scale vineyards, olive groves and almond orchards. Not gay at all. In all the years I have worked in that sector, and chatted on-line I only ever came across one other gay guy and funnily we tended to replace each other in subsequent projects. He managed 4 properties I developed, yet we never worked ot the same place at the same time! Now I work for the Australian Public Service (god what a departure from agriculture) and have only met a handful of GLBT colleagues. I am hardly the stereotype although quite capable of camping things up.

[paulypops]

I used to think I worked in a gay vacuum in this industry so it's nice to see gay guys and girls out at every level these days, even IT ....... :)

[CarlOzSyd]

Stereotypes don't update. If a new stereotype was to be set, I'd say teaching and accounting are a new gay professions, but thankfully there is gay people doing any kind of jobs.

[bentevents]

I think a lot of gay people tend to focus on jobs that are either an artistic component to them, minder jobs (nurses etc) or jobs that have a social aspect to them. I was coming back on the train after a week at Richmond Air Base (Air cadets when I was younger) and a college who's father employed people for the then Mail Train (Countrylink) said that her father employed more gay people due to the fact they give a better service on the trains (no hidden meaning in that statement:D ).

As for myself I don't conform to the typical gay guy. I have even been questioned by a gay guy in a gay bar about if I was really gay. I work with a local council here as a Geographic Information Systems Analyst (a fancy term for Computerised Mapping) and have done various jobs (some good - reading water meters, some bad - taking levels of sludge by rowing a boat in the sludge ponds at a Treatment works (never do that with someone with no boating nouce)).

One thing I have noticed with people regardless of whether or not you are gay, people like to pidgeon-hole others. To a certain degree I feel it makes them feel more comfortable that a person is either this or that. People who fall outside those pideon-holes tend to make others uncomfortable.

[wd1725]

I'm a lawyer (don't judge me!).

I work with a few gay guys, and have in the last few years found that there's a reasonably large proportion of us in legal practice. Most of the guys I know have been in litigation - which is kind of funny - it's an area that requires you to be highly organised, a good people person and public speaker, and when the time is right...bitchy.

I guess there's a creative element to it - a fair amount of strategy involved in thinking about what the opponent is going to do.

Unfortunately because of the work hours - and the general idea that anyone who sees you doing something even mildly "human" might use it against you in some way - "legal Queers" don't really have much of a social or romantic life. I think that's why we like the "bitchy" parts - we get to vent our frustration at other people through our profession.

[ilbonito]

I'm a teacher - another heavily gay profession I would say.

[Danny76]

I currently work in IT in the field of Networking and it's all very heterosexual :)

I don't think these guys get out much it's all boobs and cisco switches!

For the most part it's all good but I know some of my work mates have real issues with my turbo-fag status.

Still if you're good at your job who gives a s**t.

[Sinshol]

I'm a teacher - another heavily gay profession I would say.

How do you going about a job - the taboo of gay teachers still heavily remains and I have yet to meet one.

[bascia2]

I have spent half my working life as a geologist and the second half as an information management consultant. I work in the public service now as a Senior Manager combining both these skills. I am out at work and know many gay people in the public service. I don't know any other gay geologists or information management consultants. My partner John is a teacher and we know other gay teachers. He too is out at work but it is not spoken about in the classroom. Like any other male teacher he ensures that he is never alone with a child.

[ammonite]

Like any other male teacher he ensures that he is never alone with a child.

what!?

since when do they have to do that?
how ridiculous

[bascia2]

what!?

since when do they have to do that?
how ridiculous

Since some smartass little children started making false accusations of being molested by male teachers to try and get their way or assert control.

Why do you think there are declining numbers of male primary school teachers?

[arc7]

How do you going about a job - the taboo of gay teachers still heavily remains and I have yet to meet one.

*waves* hi!

...well, nearly. i have one year of study left, but i'm already doing practicum in schools.
to answer your question, you apply to a course, finish said course, and apply to the Department of Education. they aren't going to turn you down for being gay.
i like to think that many people in the industry would welcome more male gay role models for the population of high school students questioning their sexuality - teachers have a huge amount of influence on kids' lives, and what better impression can i make than doing my job with pride, but not making an issue of it?

obviously it's something constantly on my mind, especially if i have to go rural.
but i feel obligated to finish this, i know how much i would have appreciated having better male role models at school.

[teletype]

Perhaps gay guys are actually evenly spread out across every conceivable profession. And the apparent differences come from the personalities and willingness to be open.

It's not so much that gay guys are more attracted to certain professions over others, but rather certain personality types are attracted to certain professions. The personalities and professional environment then affect how likely a person is to be open about their sexuality.

There may well be many macho guys in the macho professions like engineering and mining who are sexually attracted to men but don't at all identify themselves as "gay". Does this then contribute to the perception that there aren't that many gay men in those professions?

Similarly, it is probably very professionally advantageous for a gay hairdresser to be very open about his sexuality.

The stereotypes work in reverse too - consider the straight ballet dancer...

[prezben]

Hi all,

What's interesting is that the call centre does have the stereotype of attracting gay guys and its accurate from my experience. Having worked in one for the better part of 7 years.

However, that's probably customer service in general.

I do work in a Call Centre but I couldn't be further from the stereotype. I love sport, I love hanging out with my mates and the drama just drains me mentally. I love good value over high fashion, don't do drugs, only drink on occassion and would much rather kick a footy than go to a nightclub. In fact, nightclubs drive me insane. I want to talk to the people I'm with!!!!

Anyway, just thought I'd concur with some statements on here. Every type of person works in every type of profession.

[nickdisco]

I think these days a lot of people have worked in call centres and I must say when I worked for Telstra there were a few gays but not nearly as many old ladies.
I think its hard to stereotype too much though, there is a SSer here who works in construction.