Men who do "women's work" have consistently been the butt of jokes, derided for their lack of drive and masculinity. In this eye-opening study, Christine Williams provides a wholly new look at men who work in predominantly female jobs. Having conducted extensive interviews in four cities, Williams uncovers how men in four occupations--nursing, elementary school teaching, librarianship, and social work--think about themselves and experience their work.

Contrary to popular imagery, men in traditionally female occupations do not define themselves differently from men in more traditional...