The working world continues to evolve, with women featuring more frequently in leadership roles across various industries, but there is still a way to go before women are equal to their male counterparts in certain employment areas and pay.
Although men and women receive the same educational opportunities in the UK, there’s still a disparity between male and female employees in certain areas. For decades, there have been male dominated industries, but women are starting to gain more representation in these sectors.
Engineering, construction, police, and science are among a number of occupation sectors that are still dominated by men. It has not been proven exactly why this is, but most fingers point to ingrained social influences and a lack of accessible female role models in these industries.
What’s more, since Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers tend to come hand in hand with a sizeable pay packet, this may contribute to the gender pay gap.
If we as a society want to achieve gender equality, then we must do more to include and encourage women who want to work in these professions. We have picked out four areas that are considered to be male dominated industries, and the courses which we believe will give women the knowledge and qualifications they need to become female leaders in male dominated industries.
STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics
Job roles associated with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) are largely dominated by males. In fact, according to a report from STEM Women, recent statistics state that only 24% of the STEM workforce is made up by women, with men taking the remaining 76%.
This appears to be a general trend when it comes to STEM graduate jobs and those studying related degrees. Over the years, there has been an increase in women pursuing graduate STEM jobs, but it still remains one of the male dominated industries.
While the statistics show that men predominantly make up the employment percentage in STEM, there are many famous women who have made history in this sector. For example, Katherine Johnson was a pioneer in physics, mathematics, and space. As a woman of colour, she broke barriers by becoming a NASA Space Scientist in the 1950s.
For the next generation of female leaders in STEM jobs, consider starting your academic journey by gaining foundation knowledge in the sciences. If you want to embark on a career in STEM or science based careers, UK residents should study a related degree.
If you don’t have the traditional A Levels that can get you into university, then enrol on one of our science-related Access to Higher Education Diplomas. These accredited online courses are the equivalent of 3 A Levels and are widely accepted by universities across the country.
If you want to make significant improvements and transformations to global healthcare, then why not take the bioscience route. With this specialist knowledge, you can delve into essential research and development or progress into teaching. To kickstart this path, study our Access to HE Diploma in Biochemical Science.
With this, you can go on to study a related degree at university, such as Biology, Chemistry, or Biomedical Science. Please note that we offer additional Science-related Access to Higher Education Diplomas, including:
Whatever option you choose, an Access to HE Diploma can help you get on to a degree that is related to the career you are searching for.
Agriculture and Forestry
The agriculture industry is commonly dominated by men, with women making up less than 30% of the agriculture and forestry sector. There are various jobs that fall under this category, including:
- Agricultural Engineer
- Conservation Planner
- Forest Health Specialist
- Agricultural Food Scientist
- Many more!
Farming in the UK is a hugely important factor in economic growth, but it also contributes to the country’s trade operations in the global market. There are various opportunities available, and over the last few years, more women have been running farms in the UK. However, the industry remains male dominated.
To make the workforce more equal in terms of gender, women can pursue opportunities by starting their career trajectory with academia. Our Access to Higher Education Diploma (Land Based Science) explores agriculture, ecology, conservation. Essentially, the online course will provide you with knowledge about the core sciences related to the natural world.
You can use this diploma to go to university and study a degree related to the agriculture and forestry industry. What’s more, this qualification is the equivalent of 3 A Levels, so if you don’t have those traditional qualifications, you can still meet the entry requirements of many universities in the UK.
Construction
In recent years, significant efforts have been made to encourage women into the construction industry. However, it continues to be one of the most male dominated industries. In fact, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there are just over 300,000 women who hold construction jobs, compared to over 1.8 million men.
There are a number of reasons why this may be the case, with one perhaps being the lack of awareness about what careers in construction entail. Many assume that labouring is the predominant strand of the industry, but there is plenty more, including construction management jobs, construction project manager jobs, and construction director jobs.
Whether you want a job that involves manual labour or one that oversees the construction process, you can get your foot in the door through work experience and studying. For women who are interested in construction management jobs, then consider enrolling on our Introduction to Construction Management course.
The syllabus covers a range of essential topics that will give you the knowledge you need to pursue further study, training, or work experience. These topics include:
- Development and Control
- Leadership, Communication, and the Performance of People
- Behaviour, Problem Solving and Managing Change
- The Management of People
- Industrial Relations, Health and Safety
Police
When it comes to police officers, the force is a notoriously male dominated industry. According to recent UK government statistics, just over 32% of police officers in England and Wales were women. This is despite the fact that there have been women in the highest positions within the force. For example, Cressida Dick was Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police for 5 years.
As society advances, it is important to have a diverse police force made up of members of all races and genders. If you are keen to work in the force, then you will need to go through accredited training. Depending on what area of the industry you want to work in, it would be helpful to gain some essential foundational knowledge.
To get a better understanding of why members of society commit the crimes that they do, you should study our Access to Higher Education Diploma (Social Science) – Psychology and Criminology Pathway. You will explore a range of topics, including:
- Crime and Deviance
- The Welfare State
- Cognitive Psychology
- Criminology of Prisons
- Criminal Law and Procedures
- Criminal Justice and Social Policy
The Next Female Leaders in Male Dominated Industries
If you are interested in breaking into the male dominated industries mentioned, then the first step is to understand the industry you want to embark on. Through the courses highlighted, you can enhance your knowledge and work towards the qualifications you need to achieve your career goals.
What’s more, our courses are delivered online, so you can study at your own pace and from the comfort of your own home. To find out more information, speak to one of our Course Executives today on 0121 392 8288 or contact us online. Alternatively, explore our range of online courses by clicking below.
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