Why are most librarians white women?
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- Опубліковано 1 чер 2024
- More than 4 out of every 5 librarians is a woman, and nearly 9 in 10 are white -- so where are the men and people of color? Like most things, the history tells the story (and spoilers: patriarchy is the worst).
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CONTENTS:
00:00 Introduction
00:43 The White, Gendered History of Librarianship
03:46 The Present isn't much different, except leadership???
07:22 Changing the face of Librarianship
Sources: see www.stacksandfacts.com/2018/1...
This video was shot and recorded on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Musqueam people.
CREDITS:
Images:
- Women cataloguing: www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2016... - LOC women
- Tuition chart: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College...
- BLS marriage statistics 2013: www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2013/art...
Music: "Lola" performed by the United States Marine Band, in the public domain.
#Librarians #patriarchy #PinkCollar
As a woman of color who has just started my (late) journey into furthering my education to become a librarian this video means the world to me. I have worked in the library profession for 5 years (part time) as a page and now a clerk and have finally made it to a time in my life I am financially secure enough to start school. While I have many years ahead of me before I get my MLIS, I can only imagine the changes I will bring to librarianship. I can’t wait to change the face of this mostly elder white woman profession. Thank you for doing the same🥰🥰🥰🥰❤️
Of course!!! ❤️ Always happy to answer questions :)
Late?! You look like a youngin! I’m currently a Circulation assistant and I do love it. I’m changing the face of my library as well. I’m one of maybe 5 who look like me out of thirty. The two older black women are so helpful in my understanding of my job and how to deal with coworkers (so to speak.) Good luck on your educational pursuits and stay grounded and trust the process!
You will be surprised how little people care about your race and sexual identity. You think they will be upset that you are intruding on their territory some how? Jim crow is over. Long over.
I just became an On-Call Library Assistant so I can relate.
Thank you for this. I wondered why a student with an ivy league education I went to school with decided to go to grad school for library science. Why would a black person do that I thought, there's no money to pay all the loans back. And I wondered why does organizing and ordering books require a master's degree.. I hope policies are changed so more minorities are exposed to the field and those trained to be the keeper of books are more representative of the communities in which they serve.
Librarians=Keeper of the books?
Me too. Representation Matters.
There are scholarships at some of the library schools. Two to look at are East Carolina University and also Northa Carolina Central as well as UNCG. All of these degree pro havgrams have financial aide and are online. The funds cover the entire program in many cases. Also you can search for books at online sites that have discounts. I care and hope that this works.
@@lilliansteele7165 thank you for this I’m preparing to apply to library schools
I am a 26 year old white woman who's never been in a serious relationship who wants to become a librarian. I feel attacked. Just kidding, I don't really care. Id like to see a more diverse field as time moves as well as an altered public perception of the 'stereotypical' librarian.
You are quite humorous. Diversity over time is something that is happening... no matter how incrementally small that change may seem. Stereotypes of the female Caucasian librarian serving public libraries is part of the history of the profession. History isn't something that you can change. That is the past. History can't be change. Focus on the Future. You see it the way it is and then do your best to challenge ideals to promote diversity. That is all that you can do.
I think that one thing that deserves mentioning is that many libraries, especially those in rural areas, or in areas that are now suburban, were founded by various womens organizations. Carnegie and other philanthropists helped fund the libraries, but women did a great deal of work getting them started. They often organized support in their communities, led fundraising activities, and often directly donated their own money to the cause. I went through library school without realizing this until I did some digging of my own, this is a story that deserves to be told.
I mean, the story is bigger than can be told in a short comment on a UA-cam video. It is really quite significant.
The best source I have been able to find is a journal article called "FOUNDING MOTHERS: THE CONTRIBUTION OF WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS TO PUBLIC LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT IN THE UNITED STATES" Library Quarterly, vol 64, July 1994. The author is Paula D. Watson. It is kind of expensive research when you are not affiliated with any university.
There's this book called " Dewey" and it's about an orange kitten who gets "dropped" off at the library in the return box location. This past summer I had gotten an orange kitten, and I almost called him Dewey because of that book, but now being informed that Melvil Dewey sexually harassed women ( well, I am glad I decided to name him after Oliver Twist instead)- oh, yes, a Dickens Novel. Suffice it to say, I am glad of that slight information you have passed on and as always thanks for providing adequate information when possible.
I'm a male librarian, and I do story times! I also do tech work and get asked to do plenty of heavy lifting, which I am happy to do but it's worth noting
"the reason men go into caring fields...is because they care" Yes, this! This isn't about librarianship, specifically, but my dad also had to deal with gendered expectations in choosing a profession. He was never really a strong learner, which meant that in his day it was just assumed he'd go to a trade school, without any regard for his personal interests. While he was good at technically oriented work, it didn't suit him at all, and he eventually put himself through evening classes in his 30s in order to become a nurse. The idea that he would've done this as a calculated career move, to quickly rise to the top is so cynical, insulting even. A management position would have bored him to death. He became a nurse because he loved the social, caring aspects of the work, and he genuinely cared about his patients.
What a LOVELY MAN!
Thank you for the video. Low salaries even for full-time employees are a big discouragement for young men. For many folks, librarianship is a second career, and women are willing to work part-time or accept a first salary of $30 to 35 thousand a year at a public library. At the same time, men librarians do get promoted more quickly than women. Libraries are great, but the idea of one person ruling at the top for 20 or more years is suffocating. I would like to see when library employees vote for an administrator every five years.
I feel that it is that way for about any organization. Stability. Management of Change is a difficult process. That is why directors and higher management stay within a particular role for so long. If the organization is thriving, then is a change of leadership needed at that level? I feel that it really depends on each organization. I do like the idea of a chosen administrator. It sounds quite democratic!
Well, in some places that might work. Here in the small town I moved to about 3 years ago though. They thrive with one person being in charge because they have the trust of the public and actually at my local library. The Branch Librarian was a kindergarten teacher and she knows many of the people that walk into the library. Heck, she even remembered my older sister (when our mother lived in this area my sister went to school with the Branch Librarian as her teacher). The Branch Librarian is a Librarian because she cares about the people/patrons.
So she's right where she's meant to be and she looks after the place and the people really well.
Wow great video. When I was younger I would say I want to be an archivist but gave up on the idea because it seemed like I wouldn't be able to get into that as a Latina female. I ended up becoming a social worker which I love but I always think I would of liked to get into librarianship. I am enjoying the video thanks!
Great video as always! I found out about the Dewey thing once because in the middle of shelf-reading I was like "whoever made this system had to have been a shitty person" and looked him up and LO AND BEHOLD I WAS RIGHT
That It's a Wonderful Life scene is starting to make a lot more sense now...
I would like to add that not all racial, ethnic, gendered, ability characteristics are visible. Some may not find it safe to out themselves as "other" than what they "pass" as.
That is their choice. How they voice themselves is up to them.
First time on this channel and I am genuinely surprised to see such high quality captions on a video with just 338 views on such a small channel!! I'm not sure how and why you did it, but I love it haha. Subscribed!
I'll take it! :D by all means, share with your friends if you want to see the view count creep up, I promise not to complain ^_^
@@StacksFacts Oh and yes, nice video too :D I am actually very curious now - what prompted you to caption your videos? I know it's a lot of work and honestly not even big channels that are primarily focused on hearing loss or other disabilities consistently create captions for every video like you do. It's quite unusual, so I truly wonder what the reason behind that was.
Accessibility is important to me, so I don't want to alienate folks. It also helps that nearly all of my videos are scripted, so I just have to do some clean up after I upload them.
@@StacksFacts That's honestly great; keep it up! And also I genuinely hope to see your channel expand and grow further. Good luck!
Good stuff as always, Peter. I think this likely parallels - I haven't done research to confirm, but structural similarities exist (and you brought up a few) - the pink coding of nursing. I'm sure (or sure hope) folks have looked into that, like you've done here with librarianship.
Yep, reading about pink collar jobs broadly is part of what inspired this!
Parallel research. Nice.
Very cool video! I'm a youth services librarian and I considered a lot of what you said about the gender role perception of working in the library.
I’m planning on starting my MLIS next year and as a gay man of color, I hope I can change the face of librarianship. Groups like REFORMA are making strides to encourage Latinos to go for a graduates degree in library science and to promote literacy within our community. This video makes many valid points as to why many people of color don’t go after a graduate degree due to financial constraints. It’s also terrible that we still have gender hangups associated with certain professions. We as a society can do better.
Absolutely.
Aside, I'm suuuuper frustrated because UA-cam held this comment for review so I'm only JUST seeing it. And I'm assuming it's because you used the word "gay." Ugh.
Authenticity and Diversity. You are and you will. You passion to promote literacy for you community is powerful. Society should do better.
Another excellent video. I'd add that men are more socialised to be risk-takers and many of us accidentally end up in management positions because we put our hands up more readliy than our (probably more experienced and qualified) colleagues who are women.
I would also like to say that studying my bachelor of Information and Knowledge Management to become an accredited Librarian literally saved my life. If I was required to get a Master in LIS, I honestly don't know if I'd still be here.
Thank you for doing what you do, Peter!
Just found your channel - love it! Thank you so much for talking intelligently, and courageously, about issues that few would address. So many of these same issues affect education too, in some variation on the theme.
Great information. Thanks for putting this together!
Ahh shucks, thanks for the comment! ^_^
Thank you so much for sharing, this is so insightful! I work part time at a library shelving and checking in books, and have recently been thinking about attending library school. While I was fully aware librarians were predominately female and knew why, I had never thought about how they're also predominately white. I've often thought about how many men (mostly older) come into our library to use our computers or read. Some often seem lonely, and will talk to our librarians for long periods of time. However, it took me until now to think about how most, if not all, of our library programs are geared towards women. I don't believe we've done very much to involve our male patrons in events, and perhaps if we had any male librarians, we would have thought of that sooner! Or already had those programs in place! I think that really illustrates your point of how important it is to have librarians of all genders and races, as sometimes we all have blind spots.
Great video - I’m researching for a bachelors major & came across this video because I found a bachelors for information and library Science ...and your right on point!
Great video. Definitely shed some light on some things I've been noticing since accepting a job at a small library as the Technology Coordinator. We are a staff of 5, and I'm the only male. I did not arrive at this position because it was planned, but because I had the desire to use my MSIT: Information Assurance & Security degree in a manner that would allow me to help people.
Much of my work is behind-the-scenes, but I do work a couple of desk shifts every week, so I can check the box of (potentially) being seen by young boys.
Great video! I had no idea about the history of librarians before this. Pretty much all of the librarians in my hometown were white women and while that encouraged me to want to work there i can see how it could easily discourage people who didn't see themselves being represented
All about perspective...there are many. Interesting. I feel that people of color need to challenge themselves to go beyond expectation.
I found your videos because I'm working on my application to UBC's iSchool right now; this one stood out to me as being exceptionally well done. I want to help make the field more diverse and ensure that a broad range of stories are being told through books and records, and discussions like this are really critical to challenging norms. Cheers. :)
Glad to hear! I've really appreciated my time at UBC, so if I can answer any questions, lmk ^_^
This is super cool, and super insightful. Not much to add, but wanted to show support!!
In the google search example, you gave, a picture of Dr. Carla Hayden, the Head Librarian of the LOC appeared. Slow progress in the profession but progress nonetheless.
Progress takes time and happens over time. But it is happening.
I really appreciate you including nonbinary people. it's rare to see acknowledgement outside a certain community, so thank you
I just want to let you know that you are a part of our curriculum--we are watching this video in my MLIS class!
I love it! Which school if you don't mind sharing?
@@StacksFacts University of Alabama!
Wow, so on the money with this episode. I am amazed how little this field has changed in spite of the technology and increase in diversity of people that could enter this field. Thank you very much and I will keep everything you said in mind. So helpful and I appreciate your candor!
I’m so glad that you actually referenced Tammy! Like before seeing that character, I could never have envisioned myself as a librarian of any kind! Also you made some very interesting points about the traditional jobs like social worker or even social media marketing that are underfunded.
Ps I wish I would’ve seen this video before the other one 😅
Hey, no worries. I appreciate ya :)
This is such a great video as always
Aw, thank you ^_^
Great video and Great Channel! I have been a Librarian for 10 years now. I enjoy the profession. I can honestly say, that the white women and Asian women helped me on my journey.
My Library has officially become increasingly diverse and I love it
I worked at a used book store for 13 years until they fired all the senior staff when the pandemic hit and replaced us with part timers (Fuck you Half Price Books!) and after wandering the fields of unemployment have landed as a reference librarian at a small local library (1300 sq. feet.) Being a small county system, they were willing to consider my experience with books (over 15 years of bookstores and libraries,) over my lack of a Library Science degree.
I love the work, I'm a book person, always have been. But it is a little weird that where the bookstore was about 50% men, the county system is about 20%. There are 5 men working in the County System (5 libraries,) me (Reference,) one guy in Circ, the Tech Guy, one Manager, and the Director of the County.
The exact reason for this disparity was something that was always at the back of my mind, but I had never really looked into the reasons, thanks for the info!
Thanks for creating this video. I'm a male Library Director in my 40's. While I am glad to have my job as a Director, I didn't enter the field to be an administrator. I see you posted this in 2018, and I'm replying in 2021. Before the pandemic I could still run a few programs for Adults and Seniors, and I hope to do that again as restrictions abate. But during 2020-2021 I've mostly had to address questions about legal and health requirements---- topics we rarely, if ever, discussed in school.
Here is a fact, if you mention to a person that you are a librarian (it does not matter what race you are) People will gasp, smile and say, "Wow, A Librarian, I always wanted to be in that profession." Then they talk your ear off." Lol! I enjoy this reaction every time it happens.
Your last comment about patriarch attitudes is SO TRUE!
Harms everybody .
I am so excited for this whole video. Diving in now. And first.
*bites nails in anticipation*
@@StacksFacts Excellent script and delivery, friend.
When there was more funding for public libraries in the UK, often they would offer sponsorship to complete librarianship quals while working. This meant fees were paid and time off for lessons was given. In the last 14 years this has completely disappeared from pub libs although I have heard of it in other fields. The course that was offered was open to those without degrees if they had library experience . These kinds of measures gave opportunities to those who might not otherwise be able to become librarians and is probably adding to the problem now. I also strongly feel in my local area that the loss of a specific role - multicultural librarian - had a knock on effect both in terms of team make up specifically to that role but overall as well, perhaps due to anticipating a whitewashed environment. There is now a very stark contrast of para-professionals who reflect our community and senior positions that don't. In the UK also stats show more male libs in university roles than pub libs.
I realize you wrote this comment over a year ago, but do you remember what the roles of the multicultural librarian entailed? I am considering getting the mlis masters and becoming a librarian, and I’ve always been an advocate for learning about and appreciating other cultures, so that career title sounds exactly like something I should strive for!
@@ailyntrujillo257 so the role initially was i think envisioned in relation to the local Asian population - so in the UK that means Pakistan, India etc. They were responsible for ordering and cataloguing stock in those community languages for both adults and children. They also took on overview of other books in non English languages for adults. Over time the role also organised events engaging with communities such as a mushaira (Urdu poetry event), looking at stock with regards to better representation of Black Caribbean and African people in our children's books. It kind of developed in various directions depending who held the role.
@@ailyntrujillo257 Also you aren't just talking about a year old comment. The role hasn't existed in my service since I think about 2010. So if I'm a bit fuzzy you will have to bear with me.
Amazing vid.
can you do a video on your education ( masters degrees in library and information sciences ) and recommendations for those who are interested in getting into the field?
:-) thanks
Done! Have a look at the channel :D
Some library association initiatives addressing concerns discussed here.
ALA Spectrum Scholarships- www.ala.org/advocacy/spectrum
ALA-Feminist Task Force. www.ala.org/rt/srrt/feminist-task-force
ALA- ODLOS- www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/diversity
Good speech. Thank you.
Wow this is an awesome video! Yeah part time work sucks especially when you have to get an MLIS for it. If you get benefits through Calpers are a part time, other jobs have to give you benefits too so they don’t want to hire you.
I’m a Junior in Bachelors of Social Work program. This will allow me to complete my Masters of Social Work in one year. I’m thinking about doing a dual masters degree in social work and MLIS. I would be the first to blaze this path. The School of Library and Information Studies has posted on their page they would be interested in this if a student showed interest. Have you heard of this degree combination before? What are your thoughts?
That's a great question -- to me I think it would be a great combination, particularly if your goal is to do library work with an orientation toward serving vulnerable communities. There's been some discussion of libraries with embedded social workers but I don't know if they had MLIS's or not. In any case, you might want to reach out to your local library system or Health and Human Services department to see what the feasibility is. Additional reading if you haven't seen it already: americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/pla-social-worker-walks-library/
Because the salary has traditionally been just enough to keep a spinster from starving
We need more people like you in the world
Nope not a unicorn... I stayed in the field (started as a part timer in college) due to the need to help people use/find reliable information to solve their informational needs.
George you made a difference. Way to go.
Have made this observation myself, but never given it much thought.
Is there a possibility where a librarian job becomes a full-time job? I am concerned about this because there aren't possibility to buy a house if I've got a part time jobs.
There is, but it may take a while. Some people pick them up pretty quickly after graduation, but others have to wait a few years. It's... messy.
It just occurred to me that the only librarian I have ever known by name was a man that oversaw youth programming I participated in as a teenager. Despite the fact that the only librarian with whom I had a personal connection was a man of color, my brain has somehow still adopted the stereotypical image of a librarian over time.
Media portrayals, i tell ya!
These are stats from the US. What are the stats from a Canadian perspective?
That's a great question! I suspect that some of them are actually a combination of US and Canada stats, as ALA and ARL have membership in both countries. Pinning down to strictly canadian context is a bit trickier, since the Canadian Library Association is no longer a thing. You can poke through the sources more in-depth here: www.stacksandfacts.com/2018/10/21/why-are-most-librarians-women/
Haha, educational and made me chuckle
I am not employed by my library but if my situation changed and I couldn’t continue being self employed I would immediately apply at my library.
Why would you employ yourself at your local library Peter?
@@amandajohnson2695 I volunteered there one day a week for quite some time. I know everyone there. I am working in the salvage and demolition space now.. but if I needed a less physically demanding job the library would be a good place to start.
@@dorkboi267 Thanks Peter for sharing your piece of your life story. Your input is quite encouraging. Demolition has more physical demands. It can be freeing process though to tear down old and start something new. Enjoy being you.
💖💖💖💖💖
Darn
They need a restraining order.
I don't understand why men would be repulsed by nurturing women?
Hi Peter, we are building a community-based entrepreneurship program centered on libraries. The mission is to grow diversity and build equity. I am wondering if that's something you are interested in something like that. I'd love to get in touch with you and share more.
Sure, you can find my email on the channels about page or at petermusser.com -- drop me a line!
They have been replaced by assistants, who do not need a degree.
In many places, but not all!
Do you want to teach library science?
Sure, who doesn't?! :D
I wouldn't overly intellectualize this. A person who is well suited to being a librarian is a person of a certain temperament, regardless of race or gender. I have probably visited more libraries than librarians themselves and the folks working in them seem to be uniformly calm, helpful, agreeable, intelligent, articulate.
I think that a man who comes from a background of toxic masculinity would shy away from the profession. I see the same trend in nursing. Men who are the right fit for the profession are flocking to it and it pays well.
So true! I worked as a library assistant and noticed all the Librarians from all six locations in my area are white women. Even the college Librarians are white women. It's so frustrating because if you are a man or person of color, you don't stand a chance. Not to mention, they are all so entitled.
Sack them all and install mainly men for the male cycle.
what's with the comment "millennials kill everything???"
Just a tongue in cheek reference to the wave of reporting a few years back that blamed everything on millennials, from eating out to home buying to being content with suboptimal wages. As a millennial myself, it felt just so right to include it. :D
@@StacksFacts as long as it's tongue in cheek, then it's ok.
Millenials kill everything 😂
I heard that Millennial spelled backwards is murderer so like
All these little comments you make are so lame.
Ok!
Ooo women naturally being more nurturing SO SCARY 😴😴😴😴
Is there something somehow wrong with white librarians? Should someone be denied a job or forced out of their profession to make room for someone else who doesn't share their color or race for ANY reason? Racial discrimination is racial discrimination, theft is theft and it works both ways. If it's applicable to one race, then it is applicable to all of them. If it isn't applicable to all races, then it is obviously not about "equality" but rather "control" and in that case, it needs to be thrown out the window. No one should be forced to give anything up that they worked hard for just to make someone else "feel better". That's morally-wrong, it's no different than theft.
And why is it only when whites are employed as a high percentage that it is viewed as "unjust" and "needing diversity"? Remember: everything freely given to one person, has to first be taken from somewhere or SOMEONE else. NOTHING in real life is free, EVERYTHING has a price.
What exactly would you like to see? All whites banned from any job that pays above minimum wage? For their degrees that they worked hard and paid thousands of dollars for to be stripped from them, given to members of "minority" groups instead, as "punishment" for the whites "inherent" "racism" that they were apparently "born" with, even though at that age they could never comprehend what words like "racism" even mean? For all that they have and worked for over generations throughout their bloodlines to be forcibly taken from them and their families they work hard to feed and provide for, and given to anyone that the government and a brainwashed entitlement-crazy society says is "less-privileged"?
If you get someone laid-off or get them fired from a job for any reason, you are taking their capacity to survive and provide for their families. Without money, you can't pay for anything in this world. Take someone's job, and you are killing them. Its no different than killing them with a gun, it just takes longer for it to happen, and the same fate can be expected for those who depend on them for sustenance. Its the logical end result of taking someone's livelihood. This is EXACTLY where the line of supposed "social justice" by forced expropriation and isolation eventually leads, and if you don't believe me, look through the bloodstained pages of human history! Someone always thinks they deserve what someone else works hard for, and if you nurture that selfish attitude and validate it instead of punishing it, eventually they'll simply rob the other person for what they have!
I thought "civil rights" were supposed to be for all human beings? Wasn't that Dr. King's dream? "Men of all colors, together in peace at the table of brotherhood"? I guess white people are considered subhuman now. Good to know.
Thanks for taking the time to comment! The underrepresentation of different groups in librarianship is a big, messy complex issue, so I'll try to clarify a little bit.
People of color can't become librarians in the first place because they are excluded due to the cost of the necessary education. People of color by and large can't even *enter* the profession, let alone get a job.
If they *can* afford the education (or are somehow able to get access to the debt it requires), they can't afford to be underemployed for their first year or more out of school -- which not only excludes people of color, but just about *anyone* who is either responsible for feeding themselves or their families. Since the overwhelming majority of librarians are white women, the profession has evolved such that white women are the ones for whom the career is ideally designed -- it privileges employing people who already have an alternative source of income, typically in the form of a spouse or family support. This was an unintended consequence, but has real (negative) impacts on the profession as a whole.
Librarianship, and just about every profession that ends up having some groups majorly underrepresented in them, suffers from this in two ways that I can think of off the top of my head.
1) As a profession that exists to serve communities, having librarians that look like the communities they serve helps the institution understand their communities' needs better, and builds trust. It's the same reason that a male patron was willing to talk to me rather than my colleagues who are women about having prostate surgery: he feels that I understand that better because of our similarities.
2) When you have a profession that has people who all come from similar backgrounds, there are fewer instances of even realizing that something might be a problem, and you have more missed opportunities to improve how a job is done. We can look at facial recognition software for example: it's always been pretty good at spotting and differentiating between lighter skinned people, but even now that it's been under development for a decade, the darker a face is, the worse the software performs. In fact, even Amazon's facial analysis tech has been shown to have problems mistaking darker skinned women for men. It is not such a stretch to see that this is probably in large part due to the lack of darker skinned people (and doubly so darker skinned women) in tech.
The problem is not the presence of white librarians; it's the absence of people from other backgrounds who bring different life experiences and understandings of problems to the table. When I was in the Navy, I was fortunate to work in one of the most diverse workplaces you can find, and the work we did benefited from it because we had people who just thought about things differently. When we got stuck on a problem, we could find someone with a different perspective to help us work through it. That's something that librarianship needs, especially as a profession that's doing its best to keep changing at the same pace as society.
As for one librarian losing their job to someone else, that's not the reality we're worrying about at the moment. Rather, what's been happening more often is that 1) librarians are waiting longer to retire, and 2) when they do retire, shrinking budgets means that the position gets cut entirely, rather than being passed on to someone new.