Okay, But Who Are Women In GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, And Museums)?

If your feed looks like ours, you've probably noticed the Internet has given well-deserved attention to career women and shown just how wide the range of fields they can work in really is. We've seen more women taking up space in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), while women in SPAM (Social Media, PR, Advertising, and Marketing) are also being celebrated for the important work they do behind the scenes.

But more recently, there's a new acronym making the rounds that shines a light on another career path, one that is a little more artsy and history-focused: Women in GLAM.

If your idea of a workday involves books, museums, exhibitions, historical documents, or even hours spent researching something you're genuinely interested in, you might want to know what this field is about.

GLAM actually stands for Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums. In its simplest definition, it refers to careers that involve preserving, studying, managing, and sharing art, culture, history, and information. Basically, those hobbies you may have had growing up, like reading books, going on museum trips, checking out exhibitions, or compiling your RRLs for a school paper, can actually connect to real careers in this space.

The field can look very different depending on where you work. In a viral post on X, user @saintkikismith shared real-life photos showing some of the work involved, including keeping digital records for archived materials, studying and preserving historical texts, arranging library collections, and even cleaning old artifacts using scientific methods and procedures.

Meanwhile, Filipino TikTok user @withinether shared how earning a bachelor's degree in history opened the door to working in a museum. Her posts show her taking part in exhibit openings, attending cultural talks and public discussions, working in a museum lab with international researchers and conservationists—and yes, basically making museum hopping part of her actual work routine.

Another TikTok user, @sophiealdegonda, also shared quick clips of her day-to-day work that she likens to Charlotte York's job in Sex and the City. ICYDK, Charlotte is one of the show's four main characters and works in the art world as an art dealer and curator.

If you're wondering where a humanities degree can take you, GLAM is worth looking into. Careers in this field can connect with degrees such as History, Fine Arts, Library and Information Science, Art Studies, Anthropology, Archaeology, and other courses related to culture, arts, and heritage.

In the Philippines, one of the biggest and best-known institutions that work in this space is the National Museum of the Philippines. It has rooms and collections dedicated to the country's cultural artifacts, anthropological materials, and natural heritage. Depending on your background and specialization, possible career paths in the GLAM space include being museum aides, tour guides, archivists, librarians, researchers, and other curatorial roles.

And no, working in GLAM doesn't mean you'll just be roaming around a room full of artworks all day. (Although, TBH, that does sound kind of peaceful.) A lot of research, organization, preservation, public education, and behind-the-scenes work goes into keeping cultural materials accessible for the next generation.

Women in GLAM is ultimately another way of recognizing the women who help preserve the things that tell us where we came from. Their work may all play a role in keeping knowledge and culture alive. And keep an eye out for your very specific obsession with old photographs, historical fun facts, and writing notes about certain artworks—they might have more career potential than you thought! 😉