A Second Look at the Process of Occupational Feminization and Pay Reduction in Occupations

Hadas Mandel*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using the IPUMS-USA data for the years 1960–2015, this study examines trends in the effect of occupational feminization on occupational pay in the U.S. labor market and explores some of the mechanisms underlying these trends. The findings show that the (negative) association between occupational feminization and occupational pay level has declined, becoming insignificent in 2015. This trend, however, is reversed after education is controlled for at the individual as well as the occupational level. The two opposite trends are discussed in light of the twofold effect of education: (1) the entry of women into occupations requiring high education, and (2) the growing returns to education and to occupations with higher educational requirements. These two processes have concealed the deterioration in occupational pay following feminization. The findings underscore the significance of structural forms of gender inequality in general, and occupational devaluation in particular.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)669-690
Number of pages22
JournalDemography
Volume55
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Apr 2018

Funding

FundersFunder number
European Union?s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program
European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program
Israel Science Foundations
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme724351
European Commission
Israel Science Foundation491/13

    Keywords

    • Gender inequality
    • Gender segregation
    • Occupational devaluation
    • Occupational mobility
    • Structural discrimination

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