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The US Department of Labor defines non-traditional careers as those careers for which individuals from one gender comprise less than 25% of the individuals employed in each such occupation. These occupations are reviewed on an annual basis and as employment shifts, what may have been considered a non-traditional career may no longer be, or one that wasn’t considered non-traditional, may be defined as non-traditional.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) not only prepares students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the workforce, but also exposes students to a variety of careers that are available. While all careers are available to all students, non-traditional careers (jobs that have been traditionally filled by 75% or more of one gender) need to be introduced to all genders of students.

While in high school, students deciding on a career or occupation should consider all opportunities related to individual strengths and interests without concern regarding the prevalence of a specific gender in the career they desire. Students often have preconceived notions of what is common for each gender to choose as an occupation, but few jobs have requirements that effectively limit employment to only men or women. The purpose of identifying non-traditional options is to foster interest in, and access to, these careers with the goal of opening up these professions to the under-represented gender without stereotyping or unjust restraints.

Gender Equity:American Association of University

Women (AAUW) (www.aauw.org)

National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (www.napequity.org)  

Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, Equity Center (www.nwrel.org/cnorse/)

Career Resources For Women:

Inspiring Girls Now! In Technology Education (IGNITE) (www.ignite-us.org)

U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau (www.dol.gov/agencies/wb)

Women in Public Service (http://www.firescience.org/resources/women-public-service/) 

Women Make Movies (www.wmm.com)

Women Work (www.womenwork.org)

The Women's Guide to Business School (http://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/business-schools/women-guide/)

Careers Resources for Men:

The American Assembly for Men in Nursing (http://aamn.org)

Johnson & Johnsons Be A Nurse (see testimonials) (www.discovernursing.com)

The Oregon Center of Nursing Are You Man Enough to Be a Nurse (www.oregoncenterfornursing.org)

Women's Industry Associations:

Association of Women in Science (www.awis.org)

HHW (formerly Hard Hatted Women) (www.hhwohio.org)

Association for Women in Computing (www.awc-hq.org)

Association for Women in Mathematics (www.awm-math.org)

Institute for Women In Trades, Technology & Science (www.iwitts.org)

International Association of Women Police (www.iawp.org)

Outdoor Industry Women's Council (www.oiwc.org)

Women Construction Owners and Executives, USA (www.wcoeusa.org)

Women Contractors Association (www.womencontractors.org)

Women in Aviation, International (www.wai.org)

Women in Aviation Resource Center (www.women-in-aviation.com)

Women in Federal Law Enforcement (www.wifle.org)

Women in Food Industry Management (www.wfim.ca)

Women @ NASA (women.nasa.gov)