Public Relations is a profession which is dominated by women. What I have observed is many female bosses prefer to hire female employees rather than males; even in schools males doing PR are very few. In an agency where I’m doing my internship there is only one guy working 6 women. During my first days many questions were running on my mind, asking myself why a guy will prefer to work with females. Even statistics has proved that women are more than men in the PR industry. According to (Grunig, 2001) “Public Relations is an industry founded in the feminist age and can be seen as favorable to women”. This is very truth because statistics even show that women are still the one controlling the PR Industry when we are talking of numbers. According to Smith (2005), 74 % of women are in PR against 26 % of men .This really proves that more are less men in the industry as compared to women. Many see PR as a profession for women because people think women have strong voice which can influence public opinion unlike men who are regarded as weak. Women are believe to be good spin doctors that is how they are able to draw more people’s attention and make them believe in what they are saying .
This statistics really proves that the reason why people are having wrong perceptions about PR and gender and that PR is only meant for women. The issue of PR and gender has made to question. Does having more women in the industry means they are better than men? Should a practitioner be judged on his gender or on his ability to deliver what is expected by the client?
During my internship I realized that the guy that I’m working with gave me idea of why he joined the industry. The passion that he had on the industry is a driving force that he used in order to excel on the industry that is dominated by females. He can be an inspiration to many man out there, when ever is he given the task to do an event for the client he will put his mind and soul to it. He will be more energetic and above all bringing good ideas to the table something that really proved to me that working in the PR world is not being as a male or female rather being able to able to assist the clients accordingly. I think the best way to change people‘s perceptions about PR and gender. This guy has proven to me in many ways that he really deserves to be in the industry that is dominated by females. I have observed that he has all the qualities such as the ability to understand the clients and meet their, hardworking, charismatic. I strongly believe these are a quality that really makes a PR practitioner. I think it is high time we change how we think about men in the PR world. The internship program gave a good understanding, that even if PR is a women’s job men can do even better than women. It’s high time the public wipe the issue of gender and see men as having potential like women. As the public we should refrain from giving man in the industry names or mock them in some way; something that I strongly believe can make them lose interest in what they are doing.
5 comments:
Hi Kgomotso,
It was very interesting to read your perspective of gender in PR. My belief is that whilst the PR industry is generally dominated by women, that does not mean that men are any less capable.
I believe the problem lies in the fact that a PR workplace, such as a PR consultancy firm, may not always have a balance of gender. Whilst women are capable of working in the absense of men I think a balanced workplace is a much more desirable and "healthy" option. However, this isn't always possible.
In my workplace at Curtin Business School International in Bentley, Perth there is a reasonably equal balance of gender. It is important to note though that not all staff members at CBS International have a PR role and my position is more "in-house" as opposed to a PR consultancy where everyone in that firm holds a PR role. Therefore, I think because you are working at a PR consultancy you will have noticed the gender imbalance considerably more than I have.
Perhaps the PR industry is more atractive to women because of the skills or qualities you require to suceed as a PR professional? For example, honesty, sensitivity and having the ability to build and manage relationships are characteristics commonly associated with women. Maybe this is a reason why men are deterred?
I think the issue of gender imbalances in PR will become a hot topic in the years to come. In the meantime, I think women are doing the industry proud!
Hi Kgomotso,
Your post regarding gender issues in the PR world is an interesting one. In fact women are not dominating the PR industry but are rather intensively present. This is mainly due to personal skills such as empathy, better two-way communication, their ability to manage conflicts as well as their ability to form and maintain good relationships with both genders. Russell (2010) adds that women tend to be more skilled because of their ‘female instinct’, which makes women more persuasive than men and can therefore approach males and females easier than men can.
Another interesting issue that you raised is the man’s place in the industry. According to Smith (n.d.), public relations might be ‘typecast’ as being a ‘women’s work’ where this stereotyping can lead PR as being viewed as a second-class occupation with no management function. Taking my country (Mauritius) as example, gender equality have not yet been reached and this kind of stereotyping can easily occur, diluting the principles and values of what public relations is all about.
Hi Kgomotso
I don’t know if dominated is the right word. I just believe that PR appeals to women, when I enrolled in PR I just found the area interesting and had no idea that I would be in a room occupied by 90% women.
I do however think that it would be easier for a male to get a job in PR over a female for the reason that Sami suggested of creating a balance. I recognise similarities with the education industry, which is primarily taught by females. My mother graduated as a primary school teacher a few years ago; her few male colleagues have all received full time jobs but herself and her female colleagues have not. Leading me to believe that the PR industry would be very similar. I am sure PR clients would be looking for both gender views especially in consultancy. With so many businesses out there having (majority) male board of directors and being an older generation that may still possess old views about women being in any work place. There would defiantly be some remaining cynical attitudes as to paying for a female’s professional opinions therefore, human resources will defiantly see the value in hiring males.
There is negative gender issues in many industries such as the high courts, law enforcement even hairdressing. I do not thing that PR is negative, I have been in contact with many charming professional males through my studies and work experience in PR, all have which have not possess a negative stigma against their female colleagues.
I believe a fantastic role model for males perusing a PR career is our lecturer Nigel de Bussy, surrounded by female colleagues and students he possess all the things you mentioned about your male colleague at your placement and still remains supportive and willing to work at a team with his female equals. He is well respected through PRIA, Curtin and throughout the industry.
Very interesting read!
Hi Kgomotso,
Your blog was very interesting to read and the comments people have made are all valid. Funnily enough my experience was different to your own and was male "dominated". I too have the same opinion that the pr industry appeals more to women and generally you find more women becoming pr professionals than men however, in the consultancy I completed my internship with there were 3 consultants and ALL men (with 1 female administrator)! I found it created a nice atmosphere as I find men can sometimes be more forward and straight to the point than women and particularly with the people I worked with this was the case. I don't think men or women are more or less capable of becoming professionals in our chosen industry but you do most certainly find more women than men and it was a pleasant surprise for me when I walked into an office of men only on my first day at the consultancy.
Hi Kgomotso,
It was a very nice post to read about the gender differences in the PR industry.
Well based on my own experience, I can say that I have never seen a man being a PR manager here in Mauritius. Even in my classes of PR we could easily spot the difference, that there were way many girls that boys. But still I would say that I feel very at ease with PR and it is always a pleasure to see how the girls are different than the boys in a way that are meticulous, so it was a way for me to be able to learn from them, because guys are always consider as doing the job and do it roughly. I believe that in the years to come, men will see how rewarding the PR industry is and that it should not be considered as a second-class job.
I believe that jobs should not be stereotyped but instead each and everyone should learn and share the knowledge so as to build better and strong relationships.
I'm proud to say that I am a student of PR and I want to this for the rest of my life.
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