Originally Posted by Val
IMO, the problem is at least partially rooted in competition. When one group wants to keep as much of some resource (including jobs) to itself as possible, its members will act in a way to meet that goal. Discriminating against people and the use of gender roles is one way to do that.

Except that jobs aren't really a resource. They are what create the resource.

Letters patent, however, are a resource, which is more of the issue with medicine.