Ch. 11 Gender Stratification

Ch. 11 Gender Stratification

Gender Stratification• Gender stratification ----- the hierarchical

distribution of social and economic resources according to gender.

• Gendered institution is a term used to describe the differential treatment to men and women common in the workplace, places of worship, hospitals, sports, schools, and other institutions.

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***Sexism and Patriarchy

• Sexism defines women as different from and inferior to men.

• Patriarchy is a society or group in which men have power over women.

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***Gender Inequality• Patterns of gender inequality are most reflected in

the wage differentials between women and men around the world.

• In Afghanistan in 1996, the Taliban stripped women and girls of basic human rights. – Women were banished from the labor force, from

schools, and expelled from universities. – They were prohibited from leaving their homes

unless accompanied by a close male relative.– In 2009, the law required a woman to have sex

with her husband even against her will.

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The Labor Market• Paid labor force participation:

– Men: 74%– Women: 60%

• This rate tripled since 1960.

• The Equal Pay Act of 1963.

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– In the 1960s, women were paid 59% of what men earned.

– Currently, they earn 78% of what men earn. (the Bureau of Labor Statistics)

• 2008 median income:– Men : $46,367 (NY: $48,882 )– Women : $35,745 (NY: $40,490 _83% rank: 5)

• full-time, year-round workers, ages 16 and older, all educational levels

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2008; and Puerto Rico CommunitySurvey, 2008.

• $75,000 + 15.8% (men) and 5.5% (women)• $200,000 to $500,000 9 (men) to 1 (women)• $500,000 to $1 million 10 (men) to 1 (women)

• 2008 median income:– Men : $70,000 (NY: $73,000 )– Women : $50,000_71%(NY: $57,000 _78% rank: 6)

• full-time, year-round college-educated workers, ages 25 and older

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2008; and Puerto Rico CommunitySurvey, 2008.

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Median Income by Race and Gender

The Wage Gap, International Perspective

http://www.aauw.org/research/behindPayGap.cfm

• Salary Gap Research

Theories of Gender Inequality

1. Discrimination2. Human Capital Theory3. Dual Labor Market Theory4. Gender Segregation Theory

1. Discrimination

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2. Human Capital Theory• Human capital theory assumes that:

– The economic system is fair and competitive.– Wage discrepancies reflect differences in the

resources (or human capital) that individuals bring to their jobs.

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Education, Gender, and Income

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3. Dual Labor Market Theory• Contends that women and men earn different

amounts because they tend to work in different segments of the labor market.

• They see the labor market as organized in two different sectors:

• the primary market• the secondary market

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Two Tiers Within the Primary Market

• Tier one is comprised of top level executive and professional positions.

• Tier two is comprised of working-class jobs, clerical work, skilled and semi-skilled blue-collar work.

• Average CEO of a major corporation earn $12.4 million, including salary, bonus and other compensation such as exercised stock options, according to Business Week's latest survey of executive pay. That's $34,000 a day including Saturdays and Sundays.

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Chairman and CEO

President,

sales associatescashers

buyers

Headquarters, managers

Marketing analysts

store managers

sr. district managers

system engineers

janitorsFactory workers

customer servicestock

district managers

The Gap, Inc.• Founded in 1969 in CA• Revenue (2009):14.2 billion• Employees (2009):134,000• The company offers clothing, accessories, and personal

care products for men, women, children, and babies under the Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Piperlime, and Athleta brand names.

• 3,095 stores

The Gap, Inc.2008 North American Gender Demographics

The GapChairman Emeritus: Donald G. Fisher

Chairman and CEO: Glenn K. Murphy

EVP Strategy and Operations; President, Gap Inc. Outlet: Arthur Peck

sales associatescashers

buyers

Headquarters, managers

Marketing analysts

store managers

sr. district managers

system engineers

janitorsFactory workers

customer servicestock

district managers

The Gap, Inc.

Assignment #3

Link to Assignment #3

Women of Color

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4. Gender Segregation• Gender segregation is occupational segregation. • The greater the proportion of women in a given

occupation, the lower the pay.

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Evidence of Gender Segregation

• Women comprise:– 82% of elementary and middle school teachers– 97% of secretaries– 90% of bookkeepers– 94% of child-care workers

• Internal Gender Segregation : Even when women and men work in the same occupations, their work is different.

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Women as percent of total employed

Discussion Questions• Break into learning teams and discuss what you

believe are the reasons women are paid less than men despite congressional laws to equalize pay.– Answer this question from the different

theoretical points of view.

• How does the human capital, dual labor market theory, gender segregation, and overt discrimination theory, explain unequal pay?

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***Quiz• True or False:

1. The segregation theory argues that males establish rules to exclude females from equal paying jobs, and work to dilute females benefiting from anti-segregation legislation.

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