One and only man

THE battle of the sexes has brought about many changes to the world of work. We don't blink an eye today when we see women doing what would once be consid-ered jobs for the boys. Brain surgeon, train driver, fire fighter - even Prime Minister - are all positions which women have made their own. And yet the same cannot be said for men infiltrating careers conventionally followed by women.

Teaching is one profession that remains dominated by women - particularly in the primary sector. But there are other fields too where it is rare to find a man at work, such as selling cosmetics or working in a secretarial office.

Here, we speak to three York men who work in a traditional female environment and ask them what it's really like working with all those women.

The school teacher

Norman Fowler is the head teacher at St George's Primary School in York. He is the sole male teacher at the school, and laments the fact that when he takes early retirement after Christmas, the school will have a women-only staff.

"It's a shame, but there are not many men in the primary sector.

"There's been a national concern about boys not achieving as much as girls and there are many factors which explain that. One which people believe is that boys don't see male role models at work. As often as possible, we try to get men into school to talk to the children about their work. That is one way of redressing the problem.

"In society in general, boys' role models might be football players or sporting heroes, but they need to have other role models, more immediate ones, and that's why it's important to have male teachers in infant and junior schools."

Ask why so few men opt for primary teaching and Norman shrugs his shoul-ders. He mentions teachers getting a bad press, talks about poor pay, but admits he doesn't really know. What he does know, however, is that working with lots of women has nothing but benefits.

"It's terrific. I work with a team of women who are really well organised, effective and efficient teachers. I enjoy working with them.

"If we do have a male working here, say on supply, they don't make him feel awkward or uncomfortable, they treat him as just another colleague. They re-spect people who can do the job, whether they are male or female."

Norman is retiring after 30 years as a primary school teacher to focus on his other passions - writing and music.

Having spent many hours performing and recording with a group of male musicians he is acutely aware of how different it is to work with women.

"The opposite sex make you raise your game. They make you behave in a more civilised way than if you were in a more male-oriented environment."

The cosmetics consultant

Andi James is having a break from his 20-year career as a magician to work in the cosmetics department at Browns de-partment store, Davygate, York.

It is the first time Andi has sold make-up and the first time Browns has employed a man in the cosmetics hall.

Andi, who mans the funky Mattese make-up stand, says he feels quite at home among the all-female staff in the cosmetics department and has had fantastic feedback from his customers.

"They bring me cards and gifts," smiles the 36-year-old, originally from Lancashire.

As for the business of selling lipsticks and eyeshadows and doing make-overs on clients, Andi says its just an extension of what he did with his showbiz career.

"I wanted to take a couple of years out to reinvent my act, but wanted to stay in a profession that was still high profile, where I'd still be on stage - and you don't get a bigger audience than working as a make-up artist in Browns. I'm performing from as soon as I arrive in the store."

The key to success, says Andi, is making women feel special. And women respond to a man's advice when it comes to how they look, he believes.

Most of his make-up knowledge has been garnered from his theatrical career, where he'd watch performers backstage transform themselves for an audience.

And Andi insists make-up and magic have a lot in common. "Make-up is about creating an illusion on somebody's face."

He has no complaints about working with so many women.

"It's like one big family. We all help each other and there is a great camaraderie. I feel really happy here. It's nice to get up in the morning and look forward to going to work."

The office clerk

Alistair Rigby has been working in the administration department of the York headquarters of the Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service for the past five months.

His duties involve typing letters, photocopying, filing and making the tea. He is the only man in his section.

"Most of the employees are women and my bosses have been women, although the directors are men," says the 24-year-old graduate who has been working on a temporary contract through York re-cruitment agency Liz Dargue Staffing.

"There are about three other men my age in the organisation, one works in the information technology department and the other two work in the control room."

Alistair secured the temporary post with basic secretarial skills, which he picked up while a student at Bristol University studying aeronautical engineering.

"When I went to the agency, I had to do a typing test and I scored about 35-40 words a minute," he recalls.

He laughs when I inquire whether his boss ever orders: "Take a letter, Mr Rigby".

"She wouldn't call me Mr Rigby," said Alistair. What about making the tea? "Yes, lots of tea," he says.

Alistair says he has enjoyed his stint in the office and found working with women has some hidden advantages.

"You get a lot of attention. There is al-ways a lot of banter and everyone is very pleasant.

"I was never concerned about coming to work here and they have never made me feel left out. There doesn't seem to be any problem with me being the only man around."

All that is about to change, however - Alistair has a new job as a systems engi-neer for Jarvis in York, where it's a safe bet he won't be the only man at work.