Pink Collar Jobs Return With A Twist

Photo from The Pill: Birth of a New Woman - The 1950s

Pink Collar Worker and Pink Collar Job are two terms I have never heard of until today. Lovely Co-worker-A was filling out a form to participate in market research studies. A question on the form asked, "Are you a White Collar Worker, Blue Collar Worker, or Pink Collar Worker?" Lovely Co-worker-A wondered what a Pink Collar Worker was. I wondered what a Pink Collar Worker was, and so did Lovely Co-worker-B. It didn't take long to have the answer. Lovely Co-worker-B was on the case and before we could say, "What the fuck?", we had our answer.

Pink-collar worker

A pink-collar worker does work traditionally mostly done by women. This includes secretarial work, typing, and work as a telephone operator. The term "pink-collar" is intended to parallel "white-collar" and "blue-collar". Women in 1950s offices usually wore bright shirts and pink was a popular color, thus entering the workforce colorwheel. So-called pink-collar jobs are secondary labour market jobs predominantly filled by women. These are jobs that are low in status and pay, and have limited benefits or chances for advancement. Examples include: teaching, nursing, clerical work, cleaning, aged care, food preparation and service, and childcare. According to gender stereotypes pervasive in male-dominated societies, these occupations are seen as ideally and naturally suited to women as they echo domestic responsibilities. Therefore they reinforce and perpetuate the traditional sexual division of labour in the household and limit the opportunities available to women in the workforce.

So after learning this today I did some of my own googling this evening. I was curious if there had been recent news articles about Pink Collar Jobs. I found quite a few but I liked this one the best -  'Pink-Collar' jobs allow moms to make money at home by Tanya O'Rourke CINCINNATI, kypost.com. One of the hottest Pink Collar Jobs in Cincinnati is Pure Romance, a sex toy...I mean relationship aid, home party business. According to the the company's CEO, Chris Ciccinelli, a sex toy business is recession-proof. In 2010 the company grew 37 percent! All I know is, Pure Romance sounds a hell of a lot better than the Pink Collar Ghetto of the 50's.