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There are still many prejudices and stereotypes in Austria regarding which professions are considered typically “male” or typically “female”.
Young people still often make decisions based on these old role models when looking for a job and may miss opportunities that they are not even aware of. It is therefore important not to tell young people which careers they should be interested in, but rather to open the doors to new or all possibilities for them. On the annual Girls’ Day in April, girls have the chance to get to know previously male-dominated professions in their regional environment.
As a counterpart to this, there is Boys’ Day, a career orientation day for young males between the ages of 12 and 18. Every November they have the opportunity to get to know female-dominated professions in the social, educational and nursing sectors. Some young boys often don’t even know that they have a talent for social professions, or are deterred from their preferred career choice by peer pressure or family pressure.
Question ideas
Boys’ Day is organized on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (BMSGPK), supported by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF). The day of action is intended to motivate male young people to consider gender-atypical professions, such as nurses or elementary school teachers, for their future planning. It’s about showing the young boys future job prospects in these areas. Since 2020, personality development, the teaching of social and emotional skills as well as migration and integration have been added as goals.
Try it alone or with the whole class
The next Boys’ Day will take place on November 9, 2023. The boys can either register directly – for example for an individual trial appointment in a nursing or educational facility – or visit a facility together with the other boys in the school class. Anyone who goes to try out the course alone must be excused from class. Class visits are usually organized by the teacher. More information can be found at www.boysday.at.
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