Fields considered "women's work"

While doing research for my ENG400 class, I came across an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education that included this mind-opening quote:

"The lower status of ‘women's work’ and the way in which the stigma is attached to gender and not to the work itself are also illustrated by the history of computer science. In the early 1900s, intensive computational work was done by women, often because those were the only positions available to women with an interest in mathematics or science…It became respected, and highly paid, only once men dominated the field."

Though I shouldn't be surprised, I have to say that I am. Professions that are considered "women's work" are looked down upon and disrespected due to the gender of those in the profession - not the line of work itself.  What do you think about this? I guess what I really want to know is: Does it surprise YOU? Why or why not?