The movie “A League of Their Own,” albeit fictional, is based on real events in history that provided a catalyst for changes in the roles of males and females in the workforce.

If you’re not familiar, it’s about the All-American Girls’ Professional Baseball League founded in 1943 during World War II when young men were away from home and women assumed a larger role in the workforce.

At first, as depicted in the movie, the idea of women playing baseball was laughed at, but soon it was apparent that these women could play, and play well.

The league lasted from 1943 to 1954.

Along with playing baseball, women worked in other pre-dominantly male professions, including factories.

This got us thinking about how much the male and female role in family and the workplace have evolved over the years.

This week, we met with Picayune fire captain Cathy Hunt-Burleson.

She told us she was the first woman firefighter in Picayune 31-years ago and still remains the only female firefighter in the department.

Firefighting is still a predominantly male field but according to fire2020.org, by 2009 there were more than 9,000 women serving as career firefighters.

Women are leaving their mark in this industry.

There are stay-at-home dads now, and mom is out working supporting the family.

More males are entering the nursing and teaching professions, which, in the past, were considered to be female only professions.

There are still jobs out there that will probably always remain dominated by one of the sexes, but it is still great to see that boundaries can be crossed, stereotypes lifted and more gender equality in the workplace is being achieved.