Galyardt 1

Elizabeth Galyardt
Mrs. DeBock
Block 1
November 3, 2014

The role of women in the work force is changing. It is especially hard for women to
pursue a career in the funeral service. At an all-time high women are entering the mortuary
services at a rapid rate. Now at 57 percent of graduates from mortuary schools are women,
slowly gaining dominance of a once all-male populated occupation (Benjamin). With comfort
and compassion, women do what most men cannot. Women are able to touch clients without it
seeming sexual or misleading. Also, the constant disapproval from friends and family, women
overcome obstacles that make them stronger. While the mortuary services are not for everyone,
entering the service does not mean that they are weird contrary to many peoples beliefs.
Women have impacted the mortuary services by comfort and care through the business.
For the women entering mortuary science they are called, distasteful and unorthodox by
family and friends. Inheriting the nurturing gene from their mother, they use comfort and
compassion to help deceased family members. Doing what many men cannot they are able to
touch and comfort the client without being charged for sexual harassment. According to Michael
McLoughlin, The fields focus has turned toward compassionate care. Sometimes women have
a greater capacity in that area (Benjamin). According to Benjamin, women funeral directors do

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not receive any prejudice only surprised reactions. While many people still do not understand
why women would enter such a profession and think that it is only about embalming bodies.
Benjamin says, that it is more about counseling grieving families and not about embalming.
That the need to help someone is fulfilling.
Secondly, while the need to help people is strong, it does not mean that they are weird for
entering that funeral services. For many people entering the career they deal with constant
ridicule from family and sometimes lose close friends. For the students at Worsham College of
Mortuary Science, they find death to be a mystery and even beautiful (Ramirez). Ramirez says
that morticians just do not throw a body into the ground. They restore the body to its former
glory and try to tell their life story once more. Students at Worsham learn how to lead people
through the process of grief and show the client that they care. For many of the students
entering, they find themselves changing there original career choice and switching to mortuary
science, says Ramirez. Some would say that it is a calling. For many who enter the career, they
chose it because they have witnessed death or have been to a wake/funeral and saw something
that moved them. For many that moving experience alone can change ones career.
Lastly, while many people graduate from the mortuary science programs, it is expected to
have lower job openings because funeral directors tend to not change their profession. This also
translate to increase job opportunities for incoming funeral directors as older members should be
retiring (Steele). For the people entering this field and the ones who are looking for financial
stability. While there is always the misconception that the funeral service just embalms the body
and tries to steal all the clients money, they do not. Funeral directors are always busy. While
the clients are grieving, the funeral director takes it upon him/herself to prepare the obituary
notice, arranged of them to be published in the newspaper, summon pallbearers, arrange for a

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grave to be opened and closed, transportation for the body and lastly arrange flowers, says
Steele. Colleen Lamb Ferrara said, Families come to you in one of the most difficult periods of
their lives. To help them, you have to be able to communicate and show leadership skills, so you
can give them guidance (Steele). Overall the funeral service helps build character and gives
you a broader look on the future.
The role of women in the work force is changing. With comfort and compassion women
enter a once male dominated field and take over. While overcoming obstacles that make them
stronger, they do what many males cannot. Gaining the qualities like leadership helps guide the
clients and lessen their stress. While the funeral does not consist of weird people it is not for
everyone. Women have impacted the mortuary services by comfort and care through the
business.

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Works Cited
Benjamin, Elizabeth. "More Women Finding Their Life's Work In Mortuary Science." Chicago
Tribune. 13 July 1997. Web. 08 Oct. 2014.
Ramirez, Margaret. "Mortuary School Not a Haven for 'Weird People,' Students Say." Chicago
Tribune. 3 March. 2011. Web. 8 October. 2014.
Steele, Jeffery. "To Serve And Comfort Can Be A Thriving Career." Chicago Tribune. 30 April.
2000. Web. 08 Oct. 2014.