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HOW SCHOOLS ADDRESS THE ISSUE
Jeffrey Forman, PhD, massage therapy program coordinator
of De Anza College in California, says tangible proof of
employers preference for female therapists is available
on his colleges online job site where employers can
post open positions and may request male or female
therapists.
Our
postings show 11 employers requested females, 0
requested males and 13 had no preference, Forman says.
He also says that students perform role-playing
exercises to expose male students to possible
situations. We make them aware of different scenarios
and tell them they have to communicate and that draping
has to be impeccable, Forman says.
At
De Anza College, in 2003, men made up only 37 percent of
the total students enrolled in the massage therapy
program for the year. At Allegany College of Maryland
where therapeutic massage has been offered as an
associate degree, 40 students have graduated since the
programs inception in 2000, yet only four were male.
Paula Murray, director of Allegany Colleges program,
thinks men may be dissuaded from pursuing massage
therapy for several reasons, including the belief that
its a womens profession, its only for men who are
strong and buff like Sven in the movies, or because of
homophobia. I [also] believe the cultural impact of
touch in this country makes it even more challenging for
men to consider the profession. I think those who are
most successful have a very strong sense of commitment,
she says.
Schools are in a position to help prepare male
therapists for any potential gender bias they may face
after graduation.
At
the Bancroft School of Massage Therapy, Hurd makes sure
the school addresses problems therapists may encounter,
male or female. We dont tell males that they will have
a harder time in the business because they might not. It
depends so much on how proactive the therapist is and
where he will go with his career. Female therapists have
their share of problems and issues as well, he says.
Massage therapy can be a difficult business at times
and it takes perseverance and a lot of work to develop
the career that you want. Of course, the biggest help we
give male students is how to communicate with clients
themselves and how to have appropriate boundaries that
will set their clients at
ease.
Jan
Schwartz, vice president of education at Cortiva
Institute, which as of mid-September owned 10 massage
therapy schools around the United States, says the
classrooms focus more on consumer choices, rather than
the issue of discrimination.
In
the classroom we discuss the consumers choices, why
they might make those choices and what we can do as
therapists and a community to respect those choices,
Schwartz says, adding that they also talk about ways the
therapists can educate the consumer about sexual
stereotypes of men and women.
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American Massage Therapy Association®
