Gender labor segregation

2022
united states

Gender labor segregation refers to the unequal distribution of women and men across different occupations and industries. It is the phenomenon where certain jobs and industries are dominated by one gender, while the other gender is underrepresented or excluded. This segregation can be observed in various sectors such as healthcare, education, engineering, construction, and finance.

Historically, gender labor segregation has been influenced by social norms, stereotypes, and discrimination that have limited women's access to certain positions and professions. For example, women have traditionally been steered towards careers in healthcare, teaching, and administrative roles, while men have been encouraged to pursue careers in STEM fields, management, and higher-paying professions.

The consequences of gender labor segregation are manifold. It perpetuates gender inequalities in terms of pay, career advancement opportunities, and overall economic empowerment. Occupations that are predominantly held by women tend to have lower wages and less prestige, while those dominated by men are often higher-paying and higher-status. This contributes to the gender pay gap and reinforces gender stereotypes.

Efforts to address gender labor segregation include promoting equal access to education and training for both genders, challenging societal stereotypes and biases, implementing diversity and inclusion policies in workplaces, and encouraging women's participation in male-dominated fields and vice versa. These efforts aim to create a more equitable and diversified labor market, where individuals are not limited by their gender when choosing and pursuing their careers.

Further reading

Puzio A.; Valshtein T. (2022) "Gender Segregation in Culturally Feminized Work: Theory and Evidence of Boys’ Capacity for Care", Psychology of Men and Masculinity, 23(3), pp. 271-284. American Psychological Association. DOI: 10.1037/men0000397