★ A work by Cary O’Dell, a member of the Library of Congress’s Film, Television, and Recorded Sound Division and the National Recording Preservation Board! Blending the rigor of archival research with an academic background in media culture, he presents this study through oral history methods and meticulous fieldwork.
★ Focusing on the cutting-edge issue of “pink-collar men,” this book features in-depth interviews with male nurses, stay-at-home dads, early childhood educators, male nannies, and other groups that cross traditional gender boundaries in their professions. It examines how these individuals navigate the workplace and contend with stereotypes, scrutinizes the unique advantages and limitations conferred by their gender, and fills a gap in sociological scholarship on men entering fields long dominated by women—while also offering a thought-provoking perspective on the relationship between work and identity.
★ This is a subtle, mirror-like reflection that challenges conventional gender roles! As men enter occupational spheres long regarded as “women’s domains,” this book not only documents their lived experiences but also casts a reverse light on society’s enduring undervaluation of women’s labor, providing a powerful framework for redefining occupational value and gendered divisions of labor.

What is it like to work in what is often regarded as a veritable “no-man’s-land”?
For decades, countless books, papers, and articles have explored the experiences of women who bravely cross traditional gender boundaries in their careers—women who become lawyers, firefighters, or coal miners. But what about the men who enter professions long considered “pink-collar”?
Inspired by Studs Terkel’s groundbreaking oral history, Working, this book takes an in-depth look at the lives of men who have embraced so-called “women’s work.” This compelling collection of interviews features male nurses, social workers, librarians, flight attendants, early childhood educators, stay-at-home dads, office clerks, dental hygienists, nannies, midwives, interior designers, and musicians who play instruments stereotypically associated with femininity. It also includes male cheerleaders, baton twirlers, synchronized swimmers, and even two male authors who publish romance novels under female pseudonyms.
The book examines why these men chose such careers, how they navigate their professional worlds, and the challenges they face—both inside and outside the workplace—due to stereotypes and biases. It also considers the unique advantages and limitations that come with their gender, offering a thought-provoking perspective on the dynamic interplay among gender, work, and identity.

Cary O’Dell
Cary O’Dell currently works in the Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division of the Library of Congress. He primarily serves as an assistant and principal liaison to the National Recording Preservation Board, dedicating his efforts to the digitization and long-term preservation of audio and visual heritage. Prior to this, he also held the position of Archivist at the Chicago Museum of Broadcast Communications.
Cary O’Dell graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where his research focused on the early history of television, representations of women in mass media, and cultural memory. His two seminal works, “Women Pioneers in Television” and “Joan Crawford Was a Feminist! Revisiting Women’s Roles in Early Television,” both offer in-depth examinations of the roles women played in the television industry and on screen.
He currently resides in Culpeper, Virginia.