New research shows structural barriers, not masculinity, keeping men out of care work
Monash University
Frontline care work remains a heavily feminised industry with men making up just 20 per cent of the Health Care and Social Assistance workforce in Australia. New research from Monash University found that barriers to men’s participation in this work are largely driven by structural and economic barriers, challenging long‑standing assumptions that men avoid care work because it conflicts with masculine identity.
Lead researcher Professor Steven Roberts said the study provides crucial insight into men's entry into and continuation in the sector, and strategies to encourage broader participation.
“The men we spoke to were not grappling with care work as a threat to their masculinity. They were grappling with insecure hours, low wages, and a labour market still shaped by gendered assumptions about whose income is expected to support a household,” Professor Roberts said.
The study utilised interviews with 41 men, across 13 focus groups and 32 follow up interviews. Focus groups explored men's experiences in low-paid care work, including challenges and rewards; pathways into the sector; factors influencing retention; societal perceptions of men in care work; and how masculine identity was navigated.
The findings highlighted two core barriers to men’s engagement in frontline care work: low and insecure pay, and a widespread lack of understanding about the nature and complexity of the work. Participants consistently agreed that pay in frontline care roles is too low and that the work is not afforded the respect or recognition it deserves — conditions that do little to encourage men into the profession.
The research also highlighted the enduring influence of the breadwinner narrative. Fragmented rostering, insufficient hours and limited full‑time opportunities make it difficult for men to meet the economic expectations still tied to masculinity norms. The study argues that this breadwinner pressure remains a decisive, yet often overlooked, factor in men’s absence from the sector.
“What our participants showed us is that this isn’t about men rejecting care work — it’s about the economics of the sector. When you can’t secure full‑time hours or a liveable wage it becomes almost impossible to meet the financial expectations still placed on men to provide the main source of income. This isn’t a matter of identity discomfort; it’s a structural problem embedded in how care work is valued and funded.”
While structural reform is essential, the researchers note it is unlikely to shift gendered patterns of participation on its own. They argue that young people need clearer, earlier exposure to what care work actually involves and presenting care work as a skilled, meaningful career pathway for both men and women. School based initiatives could play a key role in reshaping perceptions of care work.
“Most people only encounter care work when they need it, which means they rarely see the skill, judgement and complexity involved. If we want more men in care, we need to fix the conditions of care work — and we need to start earlier. Introducing young people to the realities and value of care work while they’re still in school could be one of the most effective ways to expand the future workforce.”
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