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Title: Gender Inequality by Choice? The Effects of Aspirations on Gender Inequality in Wages
Citation Type: Working Paper
Publication Year: 2007
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Abstract: Focusing on the role of occupational choices in maintaining gender stratification, this paper analyzes occupational aspirations and attainment among cohorts born between 1942 and 1964. Although male and female life course patterns have strongly converged among younger cohorts, the gender wage gap is still significant. In theory and in daily debates, the differences in choices and characteristics of men and women are seen as one of the main driving forces in gendered wage inequalities. Our analysis is structured around the question of how much choice matters for the gender wage gap. We start out with a longitudinal analysis showing that the between occupational gender wage gap decreases over time and is nearly closed for the younger cohorts. We then demonstrate that, for the youngest cohort, gender differences in human capital, family obligations, and work life characteristics do not account for the gender wage gap. We also show that it is not as assumed by human capital theorists gendered aspirations and expectations that drive the gender wage gap. Our findings support structural demand side theories assuming inequality in wages is mainly generated on the labor market through discrimination against women.
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Authors: Aisenbrey, Silke; Brckner, Hannah
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Publication Number: 2007-01
Institution: CIQLE, Yale University
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Publisher Location: New Haven, CT
Data Collections: IPUMS USA
Topics: Education, Gender, Labor Force and Occupational Structure
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