College coursework to prepare for jobs in forestry, fisheries, wildlife, hydrology, and a number of other agricultural and natural resource management related careers remains popular for both men and women.
Not that many years ago, these types of careers were male dominated and very few opportunities to break into natural resource jobs were open to women. In the 1970s, attitudes changed across much of the United States with the arrival of Affirmative Action. With doors finally opened, a group of pioneering women got jobs directly managing resources and broke down the remaining barriers for other women to follow.
Since then, thousands of men and women with similar career tracks have married to become what are known as dual career couples. For some of the couples it has worked nicely with both man and wife being able to lead successful and satisfying careers in tandem. For many other couples, there have been issues laced with give and take, compromise, negotiation, frustration, and disappointment.
Fast Tracking and Upward Mobility
As with other professional careers where upward mobility is a goal, most couples have to make a decision early on whose career will come first. Generally, after deciding who will take the fast track and move up the ladder, many moves are involved. This leaves the partner who has agreed to follow with the constant dread of if they’ll have to take a job below their skill level, not in their area of interest or specialty, and with the worry that they won’t be able to find a job at all. The frequent moves can also be hard for any children the couple might have.
To climb the bottom rungs of the career ladder in natural resources many young couples may have to move to remote places to either get their first permanent job or to get into entry level management positions. That's where the jobs are and many people don’t want to live out in the boondocks, so a door is opened for those who are willing. This again leaves the following half of the marriage with the challenge of finding suitable employment in an area where it sometimes doesn’t exist. If they do find a job they often have a long commute to work.
It is helpful if both of the partners have permanent jobs before getting married, because most natural resource agencies will work harder to secure positions for both in order to retain a trained, vested workforce. It is also helpful if the partners have different areas of specialty. For example, if one is a forester and the other a wildlife biologist issues of nepotism in the work place can be avoided.
Regional Variability
As natural resource careers progress, sometimes moves to a different part of the country are necessary. Regional hiring policy and preference could give half of the couple a promotion and leave the other half out of luck as far as getting a job that is comparable to the one they had before they moved.
Some parts of the country have not fully embraced women in performing the tasks that have been traditionally male jobs so the majority of the women in those places are in clerical and administrative positions. However, it is not to be said that there aren’t women doing some of the technical resource work. Yet, most of the time those women were raised locally and brought into the organization right after they finished their education because it is thought that local folk are more effective working with their own kind.
These are facts of life for the following spouse who came from out of the area. Even though they may have as much--or more--experience and are fully qualified, they sometimes have a hard time landing a job. It goes to prove that it’s not what you know, but who you know. This fact becomes even more problematic in the current dismal economy.
Tips for Dual Career Couples
These tips should be common sense for couples trying to maintain careers, marriage, and family.
Firstly, respect the needs of each other. Before one half of the marriage applies for their next promotion, they should inquire about potential employment opportunities for their spouse.
Both partners need to be involved in researching the character and quirks of the community to where they might move. Once the research is done, there needs to be honest discussion between the couple as to whether that job and community are a good fit for both. If any compromise is required, it needs to come from both sides.
Teamwork and empowerment build good attitudes in marriage, at work, and at home. Good attitudes bring success and contentment in both life and career.
If this is kept in mind, it is possible for couples to survive or thrive in the dual career maze.
References: Author experience and observation from 1985 to 2011.
Helen McGranahan - Helen McGranahan has worked her entire career dedicated to wise and sustainable management of natural resources.
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