Week 6- Post 6

Wiscombe, Janet. “Creative Hiring on the Green.” Workforce. 81 (February 2002): 21. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. 18 Feb. 2009 http://www.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail.

This article contains information that may lead people to the common stereotype that only older retired men are employed at golf courses. Greg Searle is the manager at a golf course in New England, and describes that for several years he has only hired retired men because they tend to “more reliable, trustworthy, and enthusiastic.” This article leads people to believe that younger individuals who work at golf courses are rude and irresponsible. Therefore this article can cause people to create a bias towards golf course employees, even when these people are not fully aware of the realistic characteristics of these workers.

I plan on using this article in my mini-ethnography when I talk about the stereotypes pointed towards golf course employees. Outsiders to this subculture may form a bias based on this one site that only hires older retired men. There’s proof at most golf courses around the country that all sorts of people are hired at courses. These people range from teenagers, to older people, to the middle-aged, and those of different races and classes. In other words, any type of person can be found working at a golf course.


Scott, Shane. “Female Caddy Counters ‘Caddychicks’ Stereotype.” Adobe. 2007. 18 Feb. 2009

This article describes the stereotypes that are directed at women who work at golf courses. The author describes how a female caddy is treated by the golfers that she has to assist. The caddy, Molly, says in the article that the golfers treat her like she doesn’t know anything. She feels that the golfers think that she’s only there to be pretty, and they don’t take her seriously when she gives advice on which club to use for certain plays. She mentions, which I personally find to be true, that the only ones who treat her with respect are women golfers. This describes in good detail the stereotypes that are pointed at female employees.

I want to use this article in my mini-ethnography when I describe the differences between being a man and a woman working at a golf course. I know from personal experience how men and women employees are treated differently by customers. I’m still need to get the opinions of other female workers when I conduct my interviews, but I’m almost sure that most of their opinions will be close to that of my own.