Horizontal gender segregation

Date and country of first publication

2004
Netherlands

Definition

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Horizontal gender segregation refers to the phenomenon where women and men are disproportionately represented in different occupations or industries. In other words, it is the division of labor along gender lines, with certain jobs being dominated by men and others by women.

This segregation is usually observed when women are concentrated in occupations such as nursing, teaching, and social work, while men are overrepresented in fields like engineering, computer science, and finance. Vertical segregation, on the other hand, refers to the unequal distribution of women and men in positions of power and leadership within the same occupation or industry.

There are several factors that contribute to horizontal gender segregation. These include societal expectations and stereotypes about gender roles, educational choices and career aspirations, workplace barriers and discrimination, and the influence of gendered socialization and cultural norms.

Horizontal gender segregation has important implications for gender equality in the workforce. It can result in a gender wage gap, as occupations dominated by women tend to have lower pay and less opportunities for advancement. It can also perpetuate traditional gender norms and reinforce stereotypes, limiting individuals' choices and perpetuating gender inequality.

Efforts to address horizontal gender segregation include promoting equal access to education and training in all fields, challenging gender stereotypes and biases, providing mentorship and support networks for women in underrepresented industries, and implementing inclusive workplace policies and practices.

Further reading

Fortuijn J.D. (2004) "Gender representation and participation in Dutch human geography departments", Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 28(1), pp. 133-141. . DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1080/0309826042000198701 10.1080/0309826042000198701]

Timär J. (2005) "Restructuring labour markets on the frontier of the european union: Gendered uneven development in hungary", Work, Employment and Transition: Restructuring Livelihoods in Post-Communism, 134-154. Taylor and Francis. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.4324/9780203994351-17 10.4324/9780203994351-17]

Savikko A.; Lanne M.; Spak F.; Hensing G. (2008) "No higher risk of problem drinking or mental illness for women in male dominated occupations", Substance Use and Misuse, 43(8-9), pp. 1151-1169. Taylor and Francis Inc.. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1080/10826080801917918 10.1080/10826080801917918]

Bloksgaard L. (2011) "Masculinities, femininities and work The horizontal gender segregation in the danish labour market", Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies, 1(2), pp. 5-21. Roskilde University. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.19154/njwls.v1i2.2342 10.19154/njwls.v1i2.2342]

Huppatz K.; Goodwin S. (2013) "Masculinised jobs, feminised jobs and men's 'gender capital' experiences: Understanding occupational segregation in Australia", Journal of Sociology, 49(2-3), pp. 291-308. . DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1177/1440783313481743 10.1177/1440783313481743]

Kreitz-Sandberg S. (2013) "Gender inclusion and horizontal gender segregation: stakeholders' strategies and dilemmas in Swedish teachers' education", Gender and Education, 25(4), pp. 444-465. . DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1080/09540253.2013.772566 10.1080/09540253.2013.772566]

Diderichsen S.; Johansson E.E.; Verdonk P.; Lagro-Janssen T.; Hamberg K. (2013) "Few gender differences in specialty preferences and motivational factors: a cross sectional Swedish study on last year medical students.", BMC medical education, 13(), pp. 39-. . DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6920-13-39 10.1186/1472-6920-13-39]

Kosyakova Y.; Kurakin D.; Blossfeld H.-P. (2014) "Horizontal and Vertical Gender Segregation in Russia Changes upon Labour Market Entry before and after the Collapse of the Soviet Regime", European Sociological Review, 31(5), pp. 573-590. Oxford University Press. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcv060 10.1093/esr/jcv060]

Hallden K.; Harkonen J. (2015) "Vertical and Horizontal Gender Segregation at Labor Market Entry in Sweden: Birth Cohorts 1925 85", Gender, Education, and Employment: an International Comparison of School-to-work Transitions, 184-202. Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.4337/9781784715038.00018 10.4337/9781784715038.00018]

Sagebiel F. (2015) "How to influence gender stereotypes Increase attractiveness of engineering", Proceedings of the 43rd SEFI Annual Conference 2015 - Diversity in Engineering Education: An Opportunity to Face the New Trends of Engineering, SEFI 2015, -. European Society for Engineering Education (SEFI). DOI: [htttp://doi.org/ ]

Reisel L.; Hegna K.; Imdorf C. (2015) "Gender segregation in vocational education: Introduction", Comparative Social Research, 31(), pp. 1-22. Emerald Group Publishing Ltd.. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1108/S0195-631020150000031023 10.1108/S0195-631020150000031023]

Bieri F.; Imdorf C.; Stoilova R.; Boyadjieva P. (2016) "The Bulgarian educational system and gender segregation in the labour market", European Societies, 18(2), pp. 158-179. Routledge. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1080/14616696.2016.1141305 10.1080/14616696.2016.1141305]

Ermiş-Mert A. (2017) "Gendered jobs and occupational prestige in Turkey: Women in the hierarchy elevator", Asian Journal of Women's Studies, 23(4), pp. 442-472. Taylor and Francis Ltd. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1080/12259276.2017.1385248 10.1080/12259276.2017.1385248]

Dämmrich J.; Blossfeld H.-P. (2017) "Women’s disadvantage in holding supervisory positions. Variations among European countries and the role of horizontal gender segregation", Acta Sociologica (United Kingdom), 60(3), pp. 262-282. SAGE Publications Ltd. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1177/0001699316675022 10.1177/0001699316675022]

Heiniger M.; Imdorf C. (2018) "The role of vocational education in the transmission of gender segregation from education to employment: Switzerland and Bulgaria compared", Journal for Labour Market Research, 52(1), pp. -. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1186/s12651-018-0248-6 10.1186/s12651-018-0248-6]

Tellhed U.; Bäckström M.; Björklund F. (2018) "The role of ability beliefs and agentic vs. communal career goals in adolescents’ first educational choice. What explains the degree of gender balance?", Journal of Vocational Behavior, 104(), pp. 1-13. Academic Press Inc.. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2017.09.008 10.1016/j.jvb.2017.09.008]

Perugini C.; Rakić J.Ž.; Vladisavljević M. (2019) "Austerity and gender inequalities in Europe in times of crisis", Cambridge Journal of Economics, 43(3), pp. 733-768. Oxford University Press. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1093/cje/bey044 10.1093/cje/bey044]

Rafnsdóttir G.L.; Weigt J. (2019) "Addressing the Horizontal Gender Division of Labor: A Case Study of Support and Obstacles in a Heavy Industry Plant in Iceland", Sex Roles, 80(1-2), pp. 91-104. Springer New York LLC. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-018-0915-7 10.1007/s11199-018-0915-7]

Hustad I.B.; Bandholtz J.; Herlitz A.; Dekhtyar S. (2020) "Occupational Attributes and Occupational Gender Segregation in Sweden: Does It Change Over Time?", Frontiers in Psychology, 11(), pp. -. Frontiers Media S.A.. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00554 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00554]

Zuazu I. (2020) "Graduates' opium? Cultural values, religiosity and gender segregation by field of study", Social Sciences, 9(8), pp. -. MDPI AG. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.3390/SOCSCI9080135 10.3390/SOCSCI9080135]

Zuazu I. (2020) "Graduates' opium? Cultural values, religiosity and gender segregation by field of study", Social Sciences, 9(8), pp. -. MDPI AG. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.3390/SOCSCI9080135 10.3390/SOCSCI9080135]

Mittner L.; Blix H.S. (2021) "Career paths in higher music education: Challenges for gender equality in the arts", Gender Issues in Scandinavian Music Education: From Stereotypes to Multiple Possibilities, 180-196. Taylor and Francis. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.4324/9781003038207-9 10.4324/9781003038207-9]

Costa E.; Silva P.; Diogo S. (2021) "The office is not enough: Women’s representation in high profile offices", Proceedings of the International Conference on Gender Research, 79-89. Academic Conferences and Publishing International Limited. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.34190/IGR.21.053 10.34190/IGR.21.053]

Verdugo-Castro S.; Sánchez-Gómez M.ªC.; García-Holgado A. (2022) "University students’ views regarding gender in STEM studies: Design and validation of an instrument", Education and Information Technologies, 27(9), pp. 12301-12336. Springer. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-022-11110-8 10.1007/s10639-022-11110-8]

Doerr K. (2022) "“Flying under the radar”: Postfeminism and teaching in academic science", Gender, Work and Organization, -. John Wiley and Sons Inc. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1111/gwao.12922 10.1111/gwao.12922]

Galos D.R.; Strauss S. (2022) "Why do women opt for gender atypical fields of study? The increasing role of income motivation over time", Higher Education, -. Springer Science and Business Media B.V.. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-022-00866-0 10.1007/s10734-022-00866-0]