Sexual/Gender Discrimination in the ESL Market Place

By Jim Korea

For those of us few males who took English Literature at University, we can attest to the overwhelming appeal of this degree to women. A quick glance around the classroom always confirmed this.

For first time ESL teachers, an initial observation would suggest males dominate the market place. Males do form a majority of teachers in many of the largest ESL markets, like Korea and Japan. However, this does not mean that males are in more demand than female teachers. On the contrary, the opposite is actually true.

A quick glance at ESL web ads and it is easy to find numerous jobs requesting "female teacher wanted" or "looking for female teacher only." An independent study published anonymously on the web this year, sought to show the true demand and preference for female teachers in the ESL market place.
(http://koreanschool.blogspot.com/2007/01/study-two-teachers-age.html full study)

The group posted a number of teacher’s resumes on the Internet looking for work. The number of emails that were returned was then compared. The replies to women teachers greatly outnumbered the replies to men and in most cases the women had over double the amount of job offers. Some young female teachers were even asked for “friendship” from prospective employers while applying for work. Male teachers were not extended this curious and inappropriate familiarity.

Perhaps it is because the majority of English schools that look for native English teachers are managed by men, or it is because of the lack of native English women teachers in foreign countries that females teachers are preferred in ESL schools. One can only speculate. Regardless, this preference, or prejudice, does exist and women do possess an upper hand in job offers.

Some easy solution to avoid the problem of gender discrimination is to avoid revealing your sex. A teacher can easily post a portrait accompanied by friends, family or, even better, students, thus concealing his/her true identity. You can also avoid checking the male or female box that is provided on some websites. Don’t be too quick on sending personal information such as a copy of your passport or other documents. Send a few letters first and have the school learn more about why you would be a great teacher without revealing your gender. Call yourself by your initials and family name H.J. Smith. But one of the most effective methods is to perhaps test the market out first with a female friend or family member. Gather all the emails you can through her and then reply to them under your own name.