> Somebody: Well, don't forget that this thread was initiated by a discussion of women outnumbering men in undergrad and graduate programs both in terms of enrollment and graduation rates. Service industries that have substituted for domestic labor don't normally require post-docs.
They do increasingly require tertiary qualifications, though. At least here in Australia. A friend of mine has been researching the professionalisation of childcare; unfortunately it's not published yet. And it seems to be the same in a lot of the 'caring professions'. My wife is a youth worker and it seems like every one of her workmates (and her) are studying part-time something or other - counselling, psychology, social work etc. It's increasingly necessary for getting that kind of job and definitely for getting promoted into a more stable professional role.
Cheers, Mike scandalum.wordpress.com