Horizontal sex segregation

1994
united states

Horizontal sex segregation refers to the separation of men and women into different types of jobs or occupations. It refers to the phenomenon where women and men tend to be concentrated in different industries, with women being overrepresented in certain fields such as education, healthcare, and social services, while men dominate sectors like engineering, technology, and finance.

This phenomenon is often attributed to various factors, including societal norms, gender stereotypes, and discrimination in the workplace. It can result in a lack of gender diversity within certain industries, limited career opportunities for individuals from underrepresented genders, and perpetuation of gender inequalities.

Efforts to address horizontal sex segregation include promoting equal access to education and training in fields typically dominated by one gender, challenging gender stereotypes and biases, implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives in organizations, and promoting policies that promote equal opportunities for all genders in the workplace.

Further reading

Berkers P.; Verboord M.; Weij F. (2016) "“These Critics (Still) Don’t Write Enough about Women Artists”: Gender Inequality in the Newspaper Coverage of Arts and Culture in France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States, 1955 2005", Gender and Society, 30(3), pp. 515-539. SAGE Publications Inc.. DOI: 10.1177/0891243216643320

Ochsenfeld F. (2017) "The gender income gap and the role of family formation revisited: A replication of Bobbitt Zeher (2007); [Ein zweiter Blick auf die Bedeutung der Familiengründung für das Zustandekommen geschlechtsspezifischer Einkommensungleichheit: Eine Replikationsstudie zu Bobbitt Zeher (2007)]", Journal for Labour Market Research, 50(1), pp. 131-141. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. DOI: 10.1007/s12651-017-0225-5

Szczepanska A.M. (2022) "Women's inclusion and neoliberal governmentality in the Swedish digital game industry: An analysis of discursive positions and recruitment strategies", Gender, Work and Organization, -. John Wiley and Sons Inc. DOI: 10.1111/gwao.12923

Ochsenfeld F. (2016) "Preferences, constraints, and the process of sex segregation in college majors: A choice analysis", Social Science Research, 56(), pp. 117-132. Academic Press Inc.. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2015.12.008

Ochsenfeld F. (2014) "Why do women's fields of study pay less? A test of devaluation, human capital, and gender role theory", European Sociological Review, 30(4), pp. 536-548. Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1093/esr/jcu060

Alon S.; Gelbgiser D. (2011) "The female advantage in college academic achievements and horizontal sex segregation", Social Science Research, 40(1), pp. 107-119. . DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2010.06.007

Snyder K.A.; Green A.I. (2008) "Revisiting the glass escalator: The case of gender segregation in a female dominated occupation", Social Problems, 55(2), pp. 271-299. . DOI: 10.1525/sp.2008.55.2.271

Larsen E.A. (2006) "The impact of occupational sex segregation on family businesses: The case of American harness racing", Gender, Work and Organization, 13(4), pp. 359-382. . DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0432.2006.00312.x

Hultin M. (1998) "Gender differences in workplace authority: Discrimination and the role of organizational leaders", Acta Sociologica, 41(2), pp. X-113. . DOI: [1]

Hultin M. (1998) "Gender Differences in Workplace Authority: Discrimination and the Role of Organizational Leaders", Acta Sociologica, 41(2-3), pp. 99-113. . DOI: 10.1177/000169939804100201

Stover D.L. (1994) "The Horizontal Distribution of Female Managers within Organizations", Work and Occupations, 21(4), pp. 385-402. . DOI: 10.1177/0730888494021004003