Gender Differences at Work: International Variations in Occupational Segregation

1999 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Jarman ◽  
Robert M. Blackburn ◽  
Bradley Brooks ◽  
Esther Dermott
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Occupational Segregation ◽  
Gender Segregation ◽  
Arab Countries ◽  
Detailed Data ◽  
National Studies ◽  
National Analysis ◽  
Cross National

Despite the prominence of discussions of gender segregation in explanations of labour market inequalities, there have been relatively few cross-national studies due to a lack of suitably detailed data. A recent ILO initiative obtained suitable data for cross-national analysis of 38 countries, with a much greater number of occupational categories than has usually been available. This paper reports findings from the analysis of these data. The problems and potential of using such data are discussed and a standardisation is introduced to control for the effects of the number of occupations in the segregation measure. There are important differences in the level of segregation in different countries. The highly segregated countries are to be found in Western Europe, and in particular Scandinavia. Several Arab countries also have high levels of segregation. An argument is made suggesting that the context and meaning of segregation patterns may be quite different from what might be inferred from single country studies.

Breaking the Metal Ceiling

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Campos ◽  
Markus Goldstein ◽  
Laura McGorman ◽  
Ana Maria Munoz Boudet ◽  
Obert Pimhidzai
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Occupational Segregation ◽  
Gender Segregation ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Small Enterprises ◽  
Labour Market Participation ◽  
Female Labour Market Participation ◽  
Sub Saharan

Evidence from developed and developing countries indicates that there is significant gender segregation within the labour market, with women more likely to work in low-productivity sectors or less profitable businesses. This chapter looks at occupational segregation which significantly contributes to the earnings gender gap worldwide. The chapter studies the differences in outcomes for male and female enterprises and their sectors in sub-Saharan Africa, a region of high female labour market participation and entrepreneurship. Data on Uganda show that women breaking into male-dominated sectors make as much as men, and three times more than women staying in female-dominated sectors. Factors including entrepreneurial skill/abilities and credit/human capital constraints do not explain women’s sectoral choices. However, information about profitability of their small enterprises, male role models’ influence, and exposure to the sector from family and friends are critical in helping women circumvent or overcome norms undergirding occupational segregation.

scholarly journals Gender differences in depression across Europe: a systematic review of cross-national studies

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
D Hagen ◽  
E Goldmann
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
National Studies ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Older Populations ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Analytical Approaches ◽  
Country Specific ◽  
Cross National

Abstract Background Across countries and cultures, depressive disorders are more common among females than among males; however, the magnitude of gender differences varies between populations and may be a result of different country-specific social policies and cultural factors. This systematic review seeks to synthesise evidence from nationally representative, cross-national studies across Europe (EU-28 plus Switzerland and Norway) and to describe the impact of country-specific factors on gender differences in depression. Methods PubMed, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and Embase were searched through March 2019 for peer-reviewed, nationally representative studies that included at least two European countries, used structured assessment for depressive disorders or symptoms, and reported or allowed for the calculation of gender ratios or differences. No restrictions on language or publication date were applied. Risk of bias was assessed using a tool specifically designed for population-based prevalence studies. Results Twenty-one studies were included in this review, ten of which were based on surveys limited to older populations. Despite the use of different analytical approaches, metrics, scales, and cut-off points, depressive disorders were more common among females than among males in all but a few instances, with substantial variation in the magnitude of gender differences between countries and across studies. There is evidence of smaller gender differences in Northern Europe and greater gender gaps in Southern and Eastern Europe, as well as among older populations. Conclusions Despite methodological heterogeneity between studies, there is evidence that gender differences in depression vary substantially across Europe. These differences may be associated with welfare state regimes and appear to be less pronounced in younger cohorts. Further cross-national research on gender disparities in depression between age groups, birth cohorts, and ethnic subpopulations is warranted. Key messages While depressive disorders are more prevalent among females than among males in virtually all of Europe, the magnitude of gender differences varies substantially between countries. There is some evidence that gender differences in depressive disorders are greater in countries with weaker welfare states and lower macro-level gender equality, as well as among older populations.

The Analysis of Occupational Gender Segregation Over Time and Place: Considerations of Measurement and Some New Evidence

1993 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M. Blackburn ◽  
Jennifer Jarman ◽  
Janet Siltanen
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Segregation ◽  
Gender Segregation ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Overall Stability ◽  
Occupational Gender ◽  
Gendered Occupations ◽  
Occupational Gender Segregation ◽  
New Evidence ◽  
Index Of Dissimilarity ◽  
Cross National

Despite the importance of occupational segregation as an area of investigation concerned with understanding women's employment status, pay levels, and promotional prospects during the last 20 years, there has been relatively little attention paid to the problems of trying to measure segregation levels in quantitative data. This paper argues that there are serious measurement problems which it illustrates by showing that two of the principal indices, the widely-used Index of Dissimilarity and the OECD's WE Index are highly flawed and produce unreliable results. It demonstrates the importance of these deficiencies using cross-national data from 9 countries for the period 1970-1982. The paper introduces a new way of analysing the form of these indices in the Basic Segregation Table, which is a 2 x 2 table of gendered occupations by sex. The paper suggests a new approach to measuring occupational segregation which provides more consistent and valid results. This is called Marginal Matching. The paper ends with an analysis of occupational gender segregation in England and Wales from 1951 to 1981. It concludes that, in contrast to research claims to date, the trend in segregation over this period is one of overall stability.

Gender differences and similarities in work preferences: Results from a factorial survey experiment

2021 ◽  
pp. 000169932110602
Author(s):  
Sara Seehuus
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Gender Segregation ◽  
Western World ◽  
Survey Experiment ◽  
Job Attributes ◽  
Occupational Preferences ◽  
Occupational Gender ◽  
Gendered Occupations

Despite increased gender equality in many arenas in most of the Western world, women and men continue to choose different educational paths; this is one reason for the persistent gender segregation in the labour market. Cultural and economic explanations for occupational gender segregation both contend that gendered career choices reflect gendered preferences. By analysing data from a multifactorial survey experiment conducted in Norway, designed to isolate the preferences for occupations from preferences for job attributes with which occupation is often correlated: pay; type of position; and amount of work, this article examines whether and to what extent boys and girls who have not yet entered the labour market have different preferences for different work dimensions. The study shows some gender differences in occupational preferences, while also demonstrating similarities in boys’ and girls’ preferences for work dimensions, such as pay and working hours. This indicates that attributes tested by the experiment, which are typically associated with gendered occupations, cannot independently explain why boys and girls tend to have divergent occupational preferences. Importantly, however, the results suggest that boys’ reluctance to undertake some female-typed occupations might be reduced if they did not pay less than male-typed occupations requiring the same level of education.

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