Men are ten times more likely to be killed at the workplace compared to women. A census report shared by Forbes indicates that in 2017 alone, 4,761 men died on the job in the U.S. compared to 386 women.
A 2019 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that fishing and hunting, logging, roofing, and piloting a helicopter or small plane were the most dangerous jobs in the U.S. The report ranked these jobs as the most dangerous because people who performed them had the highest risk of getting killed on the job. Unsurprisingly, men numerically dominated these dangerous jobs.
Why Are Men More Likely to Get Killed at Work?
For starters, men are more likely to take up outdoor jobs that involve operating machines. Roofing, commercial fishing, aircraft piloting, and logging are some of the risky outdoor jobs that men love. Over 90% of the employees in the most dangerous jobs are men. For these reasons, men have a higher risk of getting killed at the workplace.
Women predominantly work indoors in relatively safe jobs. The safest indoor jobs include working in hospitals, on computers, banking and finance, and teaching.
Why Do Men Venture into Dangerous Occupations?
Genetic Predisposition
Since ancestral times, men have always been attracted to the most dangerous jobs. Cavemen who took up risky jobs, such as hunting and fighting, soon became the envy of society. These men earned the respect of the tribe and won over the most beautiful mates. These risk-takers were more likely to get offspring for future generations. Consequently, genetic predisposition may be the reason men and boys are more likely to participate in all kinds of dangerous activities.
Cultural Mindsets
Cultures have also influenced these work attitudes. Women are often viewed as the custodians of the next generation. Assuming a scenario where half of the men in a village are killed. If the female population remained intact, that village would have staged a complete comeback in a generation. If the village had lost half its girls and women, existential disaster would be a real possibility.
Fast forward to the 21st century, men who work in dangerous places, including offshore rigs, in mines, in forests, as airplane pilots, or as roofers, get highly paid. That stereotype, however, fails the ultimate litmus test if the salaries of roofers are compared with those of software engineers.
Men Live for the Outdoors
Another reason is that men are more likely to work outdoors. In essence, however, it’s not just men who enjoy working outdoors; even women love it.
Gender-Based Discrimination
Sex-based discrimination is another possibility for why more men take on the most dangerous occupations. Some companies may be hesitant to employ women in jobs deemed dangerous. Female applicants for risky jobs, such as deep-sea fishing, logging, and mining, are more likely to be rejected.
Ego Contests
Men engage in risky jobs to assert masculinity. The male gender is more inclined to try out hazardous activities like bungee jumping or jumping out of an aircraft without second thought. Conquering pursuits is a way of proving to themselves and others that they are the alpha male.
Auto Accident Injury Risks
Men often drive more miles compared to women and are more inclined to participate in dangerous driving practices, such as speeding, drunk driving, and not using safety belts. Consequently, men are more likely to get injured or killed in an accident than women. Any person injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence has the right to pursue compensation.
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