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I'm not sure why it is. I think a lot of it is ego and social expectations. Because pharmacy has an easy path to part time, it's seen as a good path for women because they can just switch to part time when they have kids. The lack of promotional opportunities factors in as well (they do exist, but it's more rare and doesn't come automatically like at many other jobs... plus, some promotions aren't worth it). When deciding what to do, people bring up those factors and push young males towards medical school or dental school rather than pharmacy. The young males go along because they don't want to be seen in a "girl's" job. My family and relatives were like that. Actually quite a few pharmacists in my parents circle, including males, but even the male pharmacists said it wasn't a job they wanted for the sons due to the lack of promotions (plus, they went through a period where many pharmacists lost their jobs, unlike the severe shortage we have now). I was pushed away from pharmacy and my sister was pushed towards it.

In the areas with more minorities, certain nationalities know a certain profession very well and thus push it in their communities. In CA, the Vietnamese are heavily represented in the pharmacy field and Filipinos are well represented in the nursing field.

My partner is a pharmacist, he makes $105,000 a year, he doesn't take his work home with him at night, it's a good way to make a nice living.

The downside is working with sick people, so many of them are understandably cranky and unpleasant.

There are promotional opportunities for pharmacists. Retail is just one avenue.