Buzz
Exploring the myths about women excelling as morticians
While scrolling through TikTok, you come across an intriguing topic: why are women often chosen to work in morgues? This sparks some curiosity, and it’s easy to see why! Believe it or not, this question has been raised before. Let’s dive into the theories and speculations on why morgues may lean towards hiring female morticians below.
Steps
Women are equipped to handle both the emotional and physical challenges.
Working in a morgue or as a mortician is undeniably tough. Many women take on this demanding role because they possess the emotional sensitivity and physical dexterity needed for the job. Research shows that women tend to have higher empathy levels than men, making them better suited to comfort grieving families and navigate difficult conversations. Additionally, women are often more agile, allowing them to handle delicate tasks involving human remains with greater care.
- Some believe that women have a keener eye for detail and are more organized than men, which could give them an advantage in the morgue, particularly when it comes to maintaining and organizing records.
Women may be less prone to disrespecting deceased bodies.
It's been suggested that women are more likely to work in morgues because they are less inclined to act inappropriately around corpses. In March 2023, Roxane Gay, the author of Bad Feminist, tweeted, “The rabbit hole I just went down after learning why morgues prefer to hire women. SMH…” This tweet ignited a discussion on social media and led others to look into the history behind this theory.
As TikTok user “coyoteannie” notes, men have been historically associated with necrophilia. A study from 1989 revealed that 92% of necrophiles are male. However, necrophilia is an extremely rare condition, and only a handful of cases have been documented worldwide. This leads to the conclusion that the theory linking women to mortician roles due to concerns over necrophilia is pure speculation—a rumor.
As TikTok user “coyoteannie” notes, men have been historically associated with necrophilia. A study from 1989 revealed that 92% of necrophiles are male. However, necrophilia is an extremely rare condition, and only a handful of cases have been documented worldwide. This leads to the conclusion that the theory linking women to mortician roles due to concerns over necrophilia is pure speculation—a rumor.
- Necrophilia refers to sexual attraction to dead bodies, and it's been observed that necrophiles often pursue careers where they regularly come into contact with corpses, like working in morgues or funeral homes.
- As of March 2023, Gay's original tweet and multiple TikTok replies to it have since been deleted.
The Final Word
Despite these theories, women still make up a smaller percentage of the mortician workforce. As of 2023, men account for 61.2% of morticians, while women represent 38.8%. However, the number of female morticians has been steadily rising since 2010. Some speculate that the increase in female morticians could be an effort to reduce inappropriate behavior, but no official data supports this idea. Societal stereotypes often suggest that women are more charismatic, empathetic, organized, and gentle than men. While these views are generalizations, they might influence hiring decisions and give women an advantage in the field. Ultimately, none of these theories are definitive—men still outnumber women in the mortuary industry. Yes, women may, in theory, be less likely to disrespect a corpse or make administrative errors, but this does not exempt them from such behaviors.
- A lot goes into becoming a mortician, and the qualifications of anyone pursuing this career should not be judged based on their gender.
