Sexual segregation and the wage gap.
In "How Big is the Wage Gap" (8/15/2006), we looked at how differences in priorities led women to accept less pay for similar jobs, in exchange for more flexibility in hours or more time off. An alternative theory, such as that proposed by Groshen (1991) suggests that "sexual segregation", or the tendency for certain lower-paying fields to be female-dominated, was the primary reason for the wage gap. However, many recent studies suggest that this theory holds little promise.
Bayard et al (1999) concluded that even within female-dominated fields, women still tended to be paid less than men in the same jobs. Camille L. Ryan's analysis of 2001 data (published 2005) also confirmed the conclusion that women earned about 73% as much as men in the same fields, and that this gap was consistent across fields and levels of education. However, Ryan notes that women's labor force experience is more variable than men's within fields, and that the variability in women's earnings is partially explained by this, which points back to the "greater time away from work" hypothesis.
Even before I was ready to admit to myself that I needed to live as a man to be happy, I joked that "if I had been born a man, I'd probably be a nurse or a teacher." I find it fairly amusing that in the same year that I transitioned from female to male, I also transitioned from a male-dominated job (theatre technician) to a female-dominated one (administrative assistant). My mother often insisted that I had a strong desire to be in the minority. I hope there's more to it than that.
Bayard et al (1999) concluded that even within female-dominated fields, women still tended to be paid less than men in the same jobs. Camille L. Ryan's analysis of 2001 data (published 2005) also confirmed the conclusion that women earned about 73% as much as men in the same fields, and that this gap was consistent across fields and levels of education. However, Ryan notes that women's labor force experience is more variable than men's within fields, and that the variability in women's earnings is partially explained by this, which points back to the "greater time away from work" hypothesis.
Even before I was ready to admit to myself that I needed to live as a man to be happy, I joked that "if I had been born a man, I'd probably be a nurse or a teacher." I find it fairly amusing that in the same year that I transitioned from female to male, I also transitioned from a male-dominated job (theatre technician) to a female-dominated one (administrative assistant). My mother often insisted that I had a strong desire to be in the minority. I hope there's more to it than that.