Occupational Segregation

Occupational segregation is the concept that some careers are “men’s careers” while other careers are “women’s careers”. Britton writes, “occupational segregation, that is, men and women are in different jobs, and the jobs women hold pay less, on average, than those that men occupy.” (p. 5). Occupational segregation has been cited as one of the primary factors contributing to women’s poverty and low-earnings. In addition, even when men and women do hold the same jobs, women are often paid less. Some explanations exist for why occupational segregation still exists. For instance, women tend to occupy the lowest rungs of the occupational ladder. Men and women are constantly “doing gender” by exercising practices that they have built on the notions of men and women. Men and women act with gendered characteristics and because we “do gender” this effects our job choices. Women often choose careers that will have more flexible hours so that they can balance their family lives. Britton writes how many women are not promoted to administrative positions because they often do not want the added responsibility of taking on more tasks and balancing a family. Social factors that contribute to occupational segregation would definitely be the notion that the woman is supposed to manage her children. Women are disadvantaged by having the responsibility of ensuring that the children have a place to go for care and often choose flexible jobs that will be understanding of those needs. Domestic responsibilities surely make it more difficult for women to become equal to men in occupational settings. Institutional factors include the idea that some jobs are for women. For instance, Britton writes, “Women paralegals for example, are often required to ‘mother’ attorneys, soothing their egos in the event of a loss in court, smoothing over the interpersonal conflicts they cause, and remaining calm even in the face of spectacularly bad behavior.” (p 17). I completely agree with this based on my own experience as a paralegal to three attorneys. I felt like I was constantly being someone’s mother and it was very difficult and frustrating at times. It was also how you were "expected" to be, so it was not seen as skill or appreciated within an office setting. One source offers an alternative of nontraditional careers as a pathway to escaping occupational segregation. Women gain certain advantages by entering male dominated occupations, such as, closing the gap of inequality. Women are also able to use their gendered skills to their advantage at times. Britton writes of a woman who used her skills as a woman to convince male inmates to cooperate with her more easily. Men gain by women entering into a male dominated occupation because they often do not receive equal benefits and, as mentioned earlier, men are much more likely to be promoted.