Sociology 699F: Cotter et al.

Sociology 699F: Gender & Social Change

Cotter et al., 1997

Cotter, David A., JoAnn M. DeFiore, Joan M. Hermsen, Brenda Marsteller Kowalewski, and Reeve Vanneman. 1997. "All Women Benefit: The Macro-level Effect of Occupational Integration on Gender Earnings Equality." American Sociological Review 62(October): 714-734. JSTOR [HM1.A75]

Causal model:

Outcome: Gender gap in earnings

Cause: MA level of gender segregation

Data: PUMS 1990 (N MAs = 261)

Conclusion: Labor market segregation -> gender earnings gap

Conclusion: Micro level occupation explains 10-15% of this macro effect

Mechanisms:
- markets (supply of women not so crowded into few occupations)
- norms (seeing women in "male" occupations changes our expectations)
- firms (women become managers and make more equitable decisions)

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Last updated February 21, 2003

comments to: Reeve Vanneman. reeve@cwmills.umd.edu