Not exactly, but shaking the earth just the same.
Since January of 2010 the TNT Club (Think Non-Traditional) has been helping break gender barriers in male and female dominated professions. Headquartered in the Diversity Achievement Center
"Don't be led by tradition, just do whatever you want to do," says David Ward, who worked nearly twenty years in sheet metal and other various trades before leaving the daily grind to pursue a degree in elementary education.
Elementary school teachers generally require a bachelor's degree and teaching certificate, which varies by state, and can expect a median salary of around $48,000 in Oregon, just below the national average of $51,467, according to Salary.com. But it's not all about dollars and cents, "Money was never an issue, I just want something more fulfilling, I want to help people," explains Ward.
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| David Ward dressed as King Tut for children from the Oregon Headstart Program in the Diversity Achievement Center on March 10th, 2011. Photo taken by TNT Club. |
Currently, 18% of elementary and middle school teachers are males, compared to 43% of secondary schooling teachers, according to website menteach.org. Male nurses currently account for 8% of industry positions, up from 6.6% in years prior.
As male students like Ward prepare to change the dynamics of elementary education, female students like Amy Payne, in the Welding Technology program, train for jobs in male-dominated professions. "You learn something new everyday, which makes it interesting, and you end up getting paid well," Payne commented for LBCC's TNT student profile page. Welders earn an average hourly wage of $20.39 in Oregon.
"Women face the harder stigma, while men generally receive praise," admits Ward, "it's tougher to crack into fields like welding and mechanics as a woman than nursing or preadolescent teaching as a man." Women have accounted for 17 of the 20 transient members of the TNT Club since its inception last winter.
Valerie Ziegler, Outreach and Retention Specialist for non-traditional careers at LBCC and founder of the TNT Club, concurs with Ward, "It is probably a little easier for a man to take a non-traditional career path, but they still have to prove themselves," she said, noting that women often encounter barriers like discrimination and harassment in the workplace. She further explained that societal stereotypes are mostly to blame and that "careers have no gender" - a popular catchphrase the TNT Club embraces.
Ziegler and Ward both agree that the primary motivation in choosing a non-traditional career is and should be passion for the work. However, benefits for men in female-dominated fields may include improved working conditions, less physical stress, and increased job stability; advantages for women in male-dominated fields may include increased salary, improved benefits, and more opportunity for advancement, according to the TNT Club's promotional pamphlet.
The club is gaining momentum and planning community outreach events at local middle and high schools, but faces challenges in raising awareness and retaining membership.
Members or not, Ziegler extends an open invitation for non-traditional students to become involved or seek assistance from the TNT Club, "the more connected you feel to your program and your school, the higher your chances of following through with your goals," she says.
For students interested in exploring non-traditional careers, the TNT Club can be a valuable resource to assist your journey. They can be reached by contacting Outreach and Retention Specialist Valerie Zeigler or Advisor Tiffany Castillo, or dropping by the
AT A GLANCE:
What: TNT Club assists students on non-traditional career paths.
Where: Diversity Achievement Center
Contact: Valerie Ziegler, Outreach and Retention Specialist 541-917-4485; Advisor Tiffany Castillo 541-917-4796.
For more info: http://www.linnbenton.edu/go/non-traditional
See Also: Documentary "Careers Have No Gender, Success Has No Limits," directed by Ph.D. Charlie Chapin.
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