Gender Composition in the Workplace – Significance for Men's Health : A quantitative study of how gender composition in occupations influences health and well-being

The purpose of the study is to examine if there is a difference between men working in female-dominated professions and men working in male-dominated professions. In terms of general happiness and subjective public health, and if gender composition can be one influence on men´s happiness. There are four research questions, one general, ”Do men feel more or less well in female-dominated professions?”, and three more specific research questions, “Are men in female-dominated professions happier than men in male-dominated professions?”, “Do men in female-dominated professions experience more or less depression than males in male-dominates professions?” and lastly “Does men in female-dominated professions have better subjective public health than males in male-dominated professions?”. To obtain empirical evidence a quantitative and deductive study has been made. As well as a cross-sectional design to acquire the data. The material used was secondary data, International Social Survey Programme: Health and Health Care – ISSP 2011. Earlier research showed that there is a difference between professions, but it is not consistent, and that the phenomenon is complex. This essay shows that men in female-dominates professions are not happier nor have better subjective public health than men in male-dominated professions. The gender patterns in society and the construction of masculinity in female-dominated professions have a bigger impact than the invisible benefits men receive in female-dominated professions. As well as strengthening the notion that happiness and good subjective public health have more than one aspect that can affect it positively or negatively. This study is important in terms of emphasizing, both positive and negative, impacts gender composition in female- and male-dominated professions have on men