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For all of history, women have worked, both in and outside the home. However, most people would note that in many fields, the idea of women being a part of the workforce has only been around for a few decades. Nonetheless, there are many fields where men continue to dominate. Here are 5 careers where women are underrepresented:

At the start of this new year, Children’s Arts and Science Workshops (CASW) had the honor of hosting New York State Assembly Member Manny De Los Santos at the Dyckman Community Center, which is home to the Young Men’s Initiative; a program meant to help mentor young men from the surrounding area. Assemblyman De los Santos donated $30,000 to help fund this initiative, which facilitates experiences such as college trips, one-on-one and group mentoring, recreational field trips, and activities meant to help engage young men as “responsible, active members of their community.”

Here at CASW, we seek to engage at-risk youth of various ages in programs and activities. As per its mission statement, the agency’s goal is to “increase their self-esteem and confidence, and prepare them to participate fully as productive members of society.” Thus, this instance of partnership between CASW and the Assemblyman is to be expected; prior to politics, De Los Santos had a 13-year career as a social worker and community school director in various schools across New York City. During that time, much of his work focused on helping students overcome academic challenges as well as homelessness and substance abuse. 

This new initiative is just one of several available through the community center; each is meant to provide educational and recreational services to local youth and their families. The Young Men’s Initiative in Dyckman will ultimately serve middle and high school students of the Inwood and Washington Heights area. As per their Instagram account CASW is “grateful to Assemblyman De Los Santos for his generous donation, and hope to put it towards our continued mission of empowering NYC’s youth.”

It’s normal to be nervous about starting a new job, especially if this is your very first work experience. However, don’t stress! Below are some tips to help you navigate the workplace:

Take Initiative:

• People admire curious individuals who show enthusiasm for their work. So, don’t be afraid to take initiative in your workplace → Try to suggest some ideas or offer to help with different projects. (Of course, assuming you have the bandwidth to do so!) This generally shows that you have what it takes to be a leader.

Be Friendly but Professional:

• Although your interactions in the workplace should reflect a standard of professionalism, it is still preferable to build a friendly relationship with your colleagues! If the person in question is comfortable with sharing, you can ask about their day, weekend, interests etc. Also, if anyone asks you about your hobbies, school, family etc.,please feel free to respond in the same way. Just be mindful that the topic of conversation is appropriate for the workplace.

Ask questions and don’t be afraid to own up to your mistakes:

• You aren’t expected to know everything, especially when you’re first starting out! So don’t be afraid to ask questions if you’re ever unsure about something. Also, in the event that you do make a mistake, try not to be too ashamed. It’s best to own up to it and offer up a sincere apology. Follow this up by asking how you can fix matters or improve in the future. 

Show Consideration for your Colleagues:

• Most industries require you to collaborate with others, so you should try and treat your colleagues as teammates. This could mean respecting their time and being punctual for meetings, deadlines etc. But this could also mean little things to make their job easier. For example, if you’re sharing documents, make sure they are organized and easy to read. If you’re doing research for a particular project, share your notes if you think it’ll help a co-worker with their own workload.

Always Practice Workplace Etiquette

• Of course, every workplace has a basic sense of etiquette you should follow. From your very first day, you should try to dress appropriately and be as punctual as possible. Also, you should try to observe these guidelines in basic communications: always say please and thank you, try to introduce yourself when you can, and of course, make sure your emails are legible and courteous. 

While the workplace is a great opportunity to get out of your comfort zone, it should never come before your health, both physical and mental. The pandemic has started a long-needed discussion around mental health in the workplace.According to a recent Gallup poll, 94% of  American workers report feeling stressed at work, and a third of these workers feel that their stress levels are unusually high. Younger workers (those between the ages of 15 and 49) report the highest levels of stress.  Here are some strategies on incorporating self-care in your work life:

Create a Self-Care Routine

• Create a personal routine that focuses on your well-being. This could include any number of rituals:
  • A cup of tea and Netflix before bed 
  • Giving yourself enough time to do your skincare in the morning/night
  • Exercise 
  • Meditation/journaling
• Eliminate outside distractions during your personal routine (I.E. Not checking your emails until after breakfast)

Organization is Prevention

• Use a calendar/planner where you write down everything. If you have all of your plans in front of you can ensure that you don’t overbook yourself. It can also help you remember deadlines
• Keep a To-Do list for each day where you write down your tasks for the day. Remember that your time is finite, so it is important to set reasonable expectations for yourself. Collect these notes in one place, whether it’s a notebook, Google doc etc.

The Pitfalls of Perfectionism

• Recognize your strengths and weaknesses: No one is good at everything, so it’s ok if you find yourself in a situation where you’re being challenged. Take things one step at a time and ask for support when you need it.
• You should know what your goals, limitations, and needs are; your best advocate is yourself. Be honest with your supervisors and colleagues about whether or not something is working for you.

Setting Boundaries

• Ask yourself what you are willing to sacrifice for work; the answer should never be your health, emotional well-being, or safety. Try to separate your work and personal life by respecting your schedule (I.E. Refraining from checking your phone after a certain time). 
  • If you ever find that your workload interferes with your boundaries, discuss possible accommodations or provisions with your supervisor
  • The Power of “No”: You can always politely decline and ask your supervisor for possible alternatives.

Nothing is more personal than how people refer to us; just as your name should be an unmistakable identifier of you, so should your pronouns. In the workplace, just as with anywhere else, referring to someone by their chosen name and pronouns is a form of basic courtesy. In honor of International Non-Binary Day, here are some suggestions for respecting gender identity in the workplace.

• Include your pronouns in your email signature and other communications at work in order to foster a culture of inclusivity. Choosing to disclose your pronouns helps to normalize the practice, and can lessen the anxiety others may feel about disclosing their own.
• If you accidentally misgender someone, be sure to apologize and thank them for correcting you. This shows that you’re willing to take responsibility for your mistake. Try and set reminders for yourself so that you’re able to refer to them correctly in the future.
• When referring to your colleagues as a group, try and incorporate inclusive language (I.E. “Welcome, everyone!” versus “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen!”). The point is to be mindful of those who do not identify with the gender binary, so try to use pronouns such as “they/them” over “his/her.”
• When using honorifics such as “Mr” or “Mrs,” consider gender fluid alternatives such as “Mx.”

It’s important to give colleagues the platform through which to share how they should be addressed, however, it’s also important to avoid pressuring anyone who is not comfortable disclosing information.  In order to avoid putting someone on the spot, simply introduce yourself by stating their pronouns, and invite anyone else who is comfortable to share.