Role Reversal of Fortune

Hear that noise?  It’s the glass ceiling cracking. And it’s being broken by men.

As the New York Times reports, men are no longer afraid to take “pink collar” jobs such as bank tellers, receptionists and waiters. As traditional opportunities such as construction and manufacturing evaporate, they’re taking on responsibilities at home and finally discovering what women have known for years - the definition of “thankless.”

The flip side of this is that women are progressing into prestigious, high-income professions that men used to dominate while outdoing their male counterparts in earning degrees and holding jobs that are more difficult to outsource.

So the time is fast approaching when men will no longer feel the pressure of chief surgeon at a prestigious hospital, dominate political debates, or escape to a private island with a secretary half his age. Instead, the modern man challenges social norms. He welcomes being judged solely on his appearance and will be ready to accept the backlash for not “putting out.” He’ll even walk the thin line of wearing something that compliments his physical features but no so much that it detracts from his intelligence and work ethic (or makes him look desperate or slutty especially if he’s not seeing anyone at the moment.)

So take pity on your male co-worker. If he stumbles into work late due to some morning kid drama, give him a pat on the backside, call him "sweetie," and with a wink, hint at a promotion somewhere down the road.