ABMP reports in their 2007 member survey report that Close to 83 percent are women. AMTA report that their members are 85% female and 15% are male. Male’s entering the massage profession find themselves in the minority which is a very unusual place for men to be.
One of the most FAQ’s on my website -www.massagetherapycareers.com is about the demand for men in the massage profession.
FAQ- Is the massage profession for men?
FAQ – Is there a demand for men?
Women have played the role of nurturing for so long that many are drawn to the massage profession to continue their work of helping others. I actually just had the thought that maybe it is also the reason why so many people struggle as a massage therapist. Through my own process of learning and discovering the hidden side of helping (see the code of the caretaker category) and seeing it in the massage therapists that I work with and interact with online and in person, I have seen that so many massage therapists confuse helping with running a business. (This is a whole other post for later!)
So what are the challenges for men in the massage profession?
Women clients find themselves uncomfortable being touched my men in some situations. The abuse of women by men sets up the bad image that males are faced with as a massage therapist. Men are skeptical of getting massage by men as they may also feel threatened sexually or they just prefer to have the nurturing of a woman.
Whatever the reasons many men are left out in the cold when looking for a job because men do not seem to be in demand in the massage profession. But how much of that is actually create by the massage profession itself?
In about 2002, I asked a male massage therapist, Ryan Hoyme (who went on to create www.massagenerd.com) to write an article on my website -www.thebodyworker.com about what issues males are faced with and how he overcame those issues.
Through the years he has also gotten many inquiries and replies to his article and he has posted them on his website at www.massagenerd.com.
The thing is that there are many successful men in the massage profession. Many have gone on to become teachers and develop their own methods of massage and bodywork. Many have written books.
Paul St John- Creator of Neuromuscular Educators
Leon Chaitow- Massage Today articles and profile,
Whitney Lowe- Massage Today articles, Founder and creator of Orthopedic Massage Research and Institute, author of
Keith Grant- Massage School teacher and writer who is very informed about the politics in the massage profession and is working to create standards for the massage profession. His website is www.ramblemuse.com
Ben Benjamin- Massage Today articles
Thomas Myers- Started with Ida Rolf and Rolfing and developed his own system of bodywork – Anatomy Trains.
Stuart Taws- British Sports Therapy
James Waleski – Orthopedic Massage
Art Riggs - Deep Tissue Massage Manual
Steve Capellini – Articles on Up Close and Personal, Spa Instructor and author. See his websitewww.royaltreatment.com.
John Upledger – Massage Today articles and profile. founder of the Upledger Institute.
George Kousaleos- Founder of the Core Institute
Harvey Kellog- Early Manual Therapy
Robert Calvert – founder of Massage Magazine and author of the “History of Massage”
Eric Dalton - Massage Today articles and Profile, Freedom from Pain Institute
Joseph Heller -Studied with Ida Rolf and created his own version of Structural Integration called Hellerwork.
Milton Trager- Tragerwork and Mentastics.
These are just a few of the many males in the profession who have created a name for themselves. They all have done it by working on many people and studying the body.
I also wonder if part of the problem is that men are not used to being discriminated against. It is a new feeling for them to be faced with. Massage schools are also telling them they will have difficulties and so when they are faced with hiring challenges they may take it personally.
The thing is that if whether you think you will or will not have issues or challenges as a male in the massage profession – you are right.
Focusing on the problem will keep you stuck on the problem. Focusing on the solution will keep you focused on creating what you want for yourself.
If you find that you are always finding the spa or job that is against hiring males, it is just a good opportunity to look at your own resistance and fear of working in the massage profession as a male. Most of the time it is some unconscious thought process that is keeping you from finding your ideal job.
One of the things you can do is to join or start your own peer supervision group that can be men only or a mixed group. Talking about these issues is one of the most important things we can do as a profession. Being able to share your concerns and yes- feelings is how the images of males as being a minority in the massage profession can begin to be changed.
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