hanrahan@trw-unix.UUCP (05/24/83)
Some time ago I read an article about working women
and the status of physicians in the Soviet Union.
It seems that simply because most physicians in that
country are women, being a doctor is no longer a
prestige occupation.
A similar situation has occurred in most Western
countries -- in the late 19th century, clerking
(i.e., being a secretary) was a very respectable
occupation for men. But as women moved into those
positions, the work lost status until today 90%
(or thereabouts -- I don't remember the exact
figure, and it varies +-5% depending on the source)
of the people in secretarial/clerk type positions
are women.
Gail Hanrahan
{decvax,ucbvax}!trw-unix!hanrahan