Have you ever heard someone use the phrase “male nurse,” as if the nursing profession were so intimately tied to the female of the species that a man who chose this profession could be thought of only as an exception to the rule?
The situation is not quite as extreme in libraryland, but it’s close.
Librarian image continues to be a playground for stereotypes, even as the New York Times writes articles about a “Hipper Crowd of Shushers”.
There is the librarian action figure, complete with “amazing push-button shushing action.” As one could imagine, this toy is a representation of “the librarian” as conceived in popular culture: a frumpily dressed, middle-aged woman with sensible shoes and horn-rimmed glasses (the only thing missing is hair pulled back impossibly tight in a bun). There is also the “naughty librarian,” which plays on the fantasies of those who imagine the uptight know-it-all who “lets her hair down” after work.
All of this being said, where does this leave us, the librarians-who- happen-to-be-male? Apparently, somebody did not want us to feel left out, because in the tradition of “male nurse,” we now have a term for male librarians: “Guybrarians”.
I don’t feel particularly offended by “guybrarian,” but in the interest of moving this profession beyond the lame, archaic stereotypes mentioned above, please don’t let this term pass from your lips. And please, PLEASE don’t buy any male librarian you know and/or love, myself included, any merchandise like this.
Your cooperation would be greatly appreciated.
Tags: guybrarian
