janetr (04/22/83)
I can think of another whole class of jobs where men face hostility--straight men going into fields where gay men supposedly predominate--ballet dancer, hairdresser, etc. Which brings up the whole side issue of why homophobia is so pronounced in our culture and so much more directed toward boys doing "feminine" things than toward girls being tomboys. (eg, worrying about boys who play with dolls, want to wear makeup, etc.) I think most parents still feel a pretty visceral reaction to their sons doing those things, whereas most traditional "boys" activities (sports, engineering) are more or less OK for girls now (an in many cases actively encouraged).