Intraoccupational gender segregation

Date and country of first publication

2002
Israel

Definition

Intraoccupational gender segregation refers to the phenomenon where within a specific occupation or industry, there is a significant gender imbalance, with one gender being disproportionately represented compared to the other. For example, nursing is a profession that is traditionally dominated by women, while fields like engineering and computer science have been historically male-dominated.

This segregation can be the result of various factors, including societal stereotypes and expectations about gender roles, discrimination and bias in hiring and promotion practices, and differences in educational and career opportunities for men and women.

Intra-occupational gender segregation can have negative effects on individuals, organizations, and society as a whole. It can limit career opportunities and advancement for individuals based on their gender, perpetuate gender stereotypes and inequality, and hinder diversity and innovation in the workforce.

Efforts to address intra-occupational gender segregation include promoting gender diversity and equity in recruitment and hiring practices, providing support and resources for underrepresented gender groups in certain occupations, and challenging discriminatory attitudes and behaviors in the workplace.

Intraoccupational gender segregation appears in the following literature

Addi-Raccah A. (2002). The feminization of teaching and principalship in the Israeli educational system: A comparative study. Sociology of Education, 75(3), 231-248. American Sociological Association.https://doi.org/10.2307/3090267

Cardador M.T., Hill P.L., Lopez-Alvarez G. (2022). Examining interests and goals as predictors of gender differences in engineers' pursuit of managerial roles. Journal of Engineering Education, 111(4), 852-867. John Wiley and Sons Inc.https://doi.org/10.1002/jee.20479