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Title: Stratification and Gender

Citation Type: Conference Paper

Publication Year: 2004

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Abstract: The existence and extent of occupational gender segregation is well known. This is commonly taken as an indication of gender inequality, but this is incorrect. In general the more egalitarian countries, in terms of gender, tend to have higher levels of gender segregation. To understand this we must appreciate that occupational gender segregation is the resultant of two components, a vertical dimension which does measure gender inequality, and a horizontal component that measures difference without inequality. The vertical dimension measures the extent of advantage/disadvantage of men compared to women in the stratification structure. The structural inequalities of social stratification are usually understood by sociologists as being represented in a stratification scale, and the most useful scale for analysing gender segregation (or any structure of occupational inequality) is CAMSIS. This measures the general desirability of occupations and so includes the inequalities traditionally conceived as class and status. However, economists and the general public are more likely to see occupational inequality in terms of income from wages and salaries. Although income is only one aspect of occupational attractiveness it is an important one, and tends to be quite well related to other aspects of occupational attractiveness.The paper considers these two stratification measures of vertical segregation, and their contributions to the resultant (of vertical and horizontal segregation) overall segregation. The main countries considered are the USA and Britain. The analysis shows the expected male advantage on income, though rather less than some might expect. In terms of occupations general attractiveness (CAMSIS) the situation does not display the expected male advantage. The explanation of the observed patterns is then considered.

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Authors: Jarman, Jennifer; Blackburn, Robert M.

Conference Name: ISA, RC28 Conference

Publisher Location: Neuchatel, Switzerland

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Labor Force and Occupational Structure

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