Re: Question from an aspiring pharmacy technician: gender equality?

[Guest guest]

to Bobcarter,

That statement doesn't offend me, but I you are right that their are more

women out there as technicians, I am not sure why that is, unless it is because

of the pay. Who knows really, I am not sure what state you are from, but some

states only pay minimum wage, or just above it, I am from Washington, my state

is not one of them, it can range anywhere from $10 to probably $18, depending on

experience, maybe even more than that. when I was going to school, we had about

20 students in my class, there was only 5 males in my class. I would say that

alot of men just don't want to be a technician, not that can't. Its not just

womens work, cause men can do it to, some may just choose to be a pharmacist

instead. I worked with a male tech, and he had been one for about 10 years give

or take. He did is job just fine. I am sure you would do just fine, if thats

really what you want to do. Good luck. Hope my 2 cents helped you out.

Lori CPhT

bobcarter3000 <bobcarter3000@...> wrote:

Warning: This question might offend some people, even though it is

not meant to offend.

I believe I could be a good pharmacy technician. I've researched how

one gets into this profession in my state.

I have just one question: are employers as open to hiring men as

pharmacy technicians as they are to hiring women? Everywhere I go I

see only women as pharmacy technicians.

Also, they seem to almost all be young women.

I know there are some male pharmacy technicians. But I've never seen

one at the pharmacies I've gone to.

Why is this? Is this the way it is all across the USA?

Assuming that I am well qualified to work as a pharmacy technician,

will I be at a disadvantage in getting hired because I am a man?

As I've said, I know that there are SOME male pharmacy technicians.

But if I had to guess, I'd say that they make up maybe 2 percent of

all pharmacy technicians. Does figure seem about right to you?

Are there so few male pharmacy technicians because few men seek to

work as a pharmacy technician? Or are employers screening out the

men who do apply?

And if few men do apply for pharmacy technician jobs, is it because

it is perceived in society as " women's work " ? Don't be angry! I

didn't say that I perceive it that way. But the mass of Society has a

lot of dumb customs and viewpoints.

I know that the nursing profession used to be all female, but now has

quite a few males. (Even while it is still mostly female.)

Myself, I see pharmacy technician work as a kind of lab technician

job. I believe it is serious, important work. I think I would enjoy

it. But I don't want to go down this path only to learn later that

employers really don't want to hire men.

Thanks for any responses to this question.

[Guest guest]

Dear Bob,

Your question does not offend me and I think it is a pertinient one. If I

were a male living in a state where the dominant RPh force was male and the

dominant tech force was female I would wonder also.

The traditional force described above is changing across the nation. There

are more female RPh's every year (by ratio) AND more male techs per year.

I think the multitasking, housekeeping (clean up after me), phone screeening

resceptionist-like clerk tasks have attracted the female who likes to take care

of and called the traditional male (RPh) to hire women who like that sort of

work.

Over the years the work of a pharm clerk/assistant has evolved to technician

where we still need the multitasking, housekeeping phone screening receptionist

worker along with the skillful, mathematical, computer user, recipe follower

(compounding), diplomatic (with nurses and doctors), juggling acrobat

(inventory, stocking/cleaning), accountable person. This attracts women and men

alike.

If you live in a state that is still Rph = male and tech = female it will be

more difficult to break in. But try the bigger cities, which are more apt to be

more open minded.

Here in California whre I have taught or the last 11 years we see a change

with more female RPh's and more male techs each year. In l995 I had 2 out of 20

students were male and today more than half in one class and about 30% in other

two classes.

I have one site that consistently hires my male techs, but not my females!

The chances of finding a male at the walgreens here is the same as for

finding a female tech there as long as you are in the 'city'.

Venture out to the eastern counties or more rual areas then we are back down

to female techs.

Tradition is the number one reason why things do not get changed in any area

or field of discussion. " Because we good ol' boys have always done it that a

way " . However this mentality has diminishied soooooooooooooo much in

California.

I think you so should do what ever it takes to be happy. If teching makes you

happy then go for it.

Our resident pharmacist Della has once said she hires the most qualified

applicant.

I think men have also thought of the 'cashier' at the Walgreen's as just

that and not as a technician. So when a male (traditionally) thought about

getting a job, they did not think much about cashiering. (therefore teching);

not realizing that teching is sooooooooooooooooo much more.

This may not help you much but I do hope it shed some light on the ever

changing face of the common pharmacist and pharmacy.. ..

Respectfully,

Jeanetta CPhT BS

bobcarter3000 <bobcarter3000@...> wrote: Warning: This question

might offend some people, even though it is

not meant to offend.

I believe I could be a good pharmacy technician. I've researched how

one gets into this profession in my state.

I have just one question: are employers as open to hiring men as

pharmacy technicians as they are to hiring women? Everywhere I go I

see only women as pharmacy technicians.

Also, they seem to almost all be young women.

I know there are some male pharmacy technicians. But I've never seen

one at the pharmacies I've gone to.

Why is this? Is this the way it is all across the USA?

Assuming that I am well qualified to work as a pharmacy technician,

will I be at a disadvantage in getting hired because I am a man?

As I've said, I know that there are SOME male pharmacy technicians.

But if I had to guess, I'd say that they make up maybe 2 percent of

all pharmacy technicians. Does figure seem about right to you?

Are there so few male pharmacy technicians because few men seek to

work as a pharmacy technician? Or are employers screening out the

men who do apply?

And if few men do apply for pharmacy technician jobs, is it because

it is perceived in society as " women's work " ? Don't be angry! I

didn't say that I perceive it that way. But the mass of Society has a

lot of dumb customs and viewpoints.

I know that the nursing profession used to be all female, but now has

quite a few males. (Even while it is still mostly female.)

Myself, I see pharmacy technician work as a kind of lab technician

job. I believe it is serious, important work. I think I would enjoy

it. But I don't want to go down this path only to learn later that

employers really don't want to hire men.

Thanks for any responses to this question.

[Guest guest]

Dear Bob,

At the College that I attend for my Pre-Pharmacy A.S. Chem./Bio.

(Pre-Professional Medical/Pharmacy/Veteranarian), the actual ratio

of male to female students in Pre-Pro (Our shorthand term on campus

for our course of study) was pretty much equal with perhaps only 3%-

5% more males than females in my Feshman class.

BY OUR THIRD YEAR... GRADUATION IS THIS SPRING!!!!!!!

(Sorry to 'yell' Jeanetta!!!)

The gals have us beat!!!!

And I'm not just talking about G.P.A.'s!

Yes, the 'keepers' (More Texas campus slang... basically those of us

who didn't 'wash out' and change to an 'easier' Major Course of

Study) love to compete! We are often subversive. It is not uncommon

that during an Exam period for a course such as Genetics, one

student has checked out every book on a certain subject from not

just my campus library, but also the public libraries, high school

libraries, and both Texas A & M campuses down here in south Texas

(Corpus Christi and Kingsville). I'm lucky that my mom has library

privileges at U.T. Austin and Incarnate Word University in San

and that there are many more 'legitimate' Internet sites

that can be used for research citations... This is no joke!!!

We don't really see each other as male or female as relationships

are only 'allowed' with persons who are not 'Pre-Pro. This is, of

course, if you happen to have the time to actually have a

relationship! Thank God I'm married to a very understanding school

teacher!

There are only about 30 of us who will graduate this Spring.

I honestly did not think of men/women ratio.

So, I got out my Filofax... (I hate P.D.A.'s!!!!!!!)

23 Ladies

7 Gents

It has been my personal experience that the ladies are more likely

to be passionate and hard working enough not to be intimidated at

certain level of competative education. By this I mean that a Prof.

has on his/her syllabus that the class of 30 students will be graded

on the 'curve': there will be be 3 A's, 5 B's, 12 C's, and 10 F's,

no matter what your actual numerical scores on your Exams and Lab

Practicals were.

The ladies 'go after it' 'better' (I guess) than the guys do!

There is no sexism at all involved in this.

The gals (for whatever reason) are more dedicated, spend more time

studying, pay more attention to detail (super important in Science),

and seem to have more 'inner drive' so they don't 'wash out' as easy

as the guys do!

Parting thought:

My Feshman Class had about 500 'Pre-Pro' Majors declared.

Two and a half years later, there are only 30 of us left!

Best Wishes from our convection oven down here in Corpus Christi...

(86 Degrees Today),

Christian B. Oliver RCPhT (TX)

>

> Warning: This question might offend some people, even though it is

> not meant to offend.

>

> I believe I could be a good pharmacy technician. I've researched

how

> one gets into this profession in my state.

>

> I have just one question: are employers as open to hiring men as

> pharmacy technicians as they are to hiring women? Everywhere I go I

> see only women as pharmacy technicians.

>

> Also, they seem to almost all be young women.

>

> I know there are some male pharmacy technicians. But I've never

seen

> one at the pharmacies I've gone to.

>

> Why is this? Is this the way it is all across the USA?

>

> Assuming that I am well qualified to work as a pharmacy technician,

> will I be at a disadvantage in getting hired because I am a man?

>

> As I've said, I know that there are SOME male pharmacy

technicians.

> But if I had to guess, I'd say that they make up maybe 2 percent

of

> all pharmacy technicians. Does figure seem about right to you?

>

> Are there so few male pharmacy technicians because few men seek to

> work as a pharmacy technician? Or are employers screening out the

> men who do apply?

>

> And if few men do apply for pharmacy technician jobs, is it

because

> it is perceived in society as " women's work " ? Don't be angry! I

> didn't say that I perceive it that way. But the mass of Society

has a

> lot of dumb customs and viewpoints.

>

> I know that the nursing profession used to be all female, but now

has

> quite a few males. (Even while it is still mostly female.)

>

> Myself, I see pharmacy technician work as a kind of lab technician

> job. I believe it is serious, important work. I think I would enjoy

> it. But I don't want to go down this path only to learn later that

> employers really don't want to hire men.

>

> Thanks for any responses to this question.

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Christian,

Dopn't worry about using CAPITAL letters sparingly! I do all the

time. It is the TOTAL REPORT DONE IN CAPS THAT IS CONSIDEDRED

OFFENSIVE, RUDE AND HARD TO READ.(caps are done for demonstrative

purposes only).

Any way no apology is necessary. Besides you never offended me. I

found it necessary to indoctrine you as I had been 6 yers ago!

Love ya

Jeanetta

> >

> > Warning: This question might offend some people, even though it is

> > not meant to offend.

> >

> > I believe I could be a good pharmacy technician. I've researched

> how

> > one gets into this profession in my state.

> >

> > I have just one question: are employers as open to hiring men as

> > pharmacy technicians as they are to hiring women? Everywhere I go

I

> > see only women as pharmacy technicians.

> >

> > Also, they seem to almost all be young women.

> >

> > I know there are some male pharmacy technicians. But I've never

> seen

> > one at the pharmacies I've gone to.

> >

> > Why is this? Is this the way it is all across the USA?

> >

> > Assuming that I am well qualified to work as a pharmacy

technician,

> > will I be at a disadvantage in getting hired because I am a man?

> >

> > As I've said, I know that there are SOME male pharmacy

> technicians.

> > But if I had to guess, I'd say that they make up maybe 2 percent

> of

> > all pharmacy technicians. Does figure seem about right to you?

> >

> > Are there so few male pharmacy technicians because few men seek to

> > work as a pharmacy technician? Or are employers screening out the

> > men who do apply?

> >

> > And if few men do apply for pharmacy technician jobs, is it

> because

> > it is perceived in society as " women's work " ? Don't be angry! I

> > didn't say that I perceive it that way. But the mass of Society

> has a

> > lot of dumb customs and viewpoints.

> >

> > I know that the nursing profession used to be all female, but now

> has

> > quite a few males. (Even while it is still mostly female.)

> >

> > Myself, I see pharmacy technician work as a kind of lab technician

> > job. I believe it is serious, important work. I think I would

enjoy

> > it. But I don't want to go down this path only to learn later that

> > employers really don't want to hire men.

> >

> > Thanks for any responses to this question.

> >

>