Chapter 9 - Gender of Work

Comparable worth

A policy aiming to raise wages in female-dominated jobs by addressing gendered job constructs.

Family wage

A wage sufficient to support an entire family.

Gender wage gap

The difference in average earnings between women and men in the same job.

Ghettoization

The separation of women’s jobs from men’s in an occupation, leading to lower pay.

Glass ceiling

The invisible barrier preventing women from reaching top leadership roles despite progress.

Glass escalator

The unseen push for men to rise quickly in certain occupations.

Human capital

The skills gained through education and experience that increase job productivity.

Human capital theory

The idea that people choose occupations based on maximizing benefits and minimizing costs.

Informal labor

Work without a formal contract, set pay, or government reporting.

Internal labor markets

Structured opportunities for advancement within a company.

Job evaluation

Assessing how pay is set and whether it is fair.

Job-level sex segregation

Gender division in specific job roles within an organization.

Maquiladoras

Assembly plants along the Mexico-U.S. border that exploit cheap labor and relaxed regulations.

Occupational sex segregation

The concentration of different genders in distinct occupations.

Protective labor legislation

Laws restricting certain jobs for women and children for safety reasons.

Resegregation

When an occupation shifts from being male-dominated to female-dominated.

Sex segregation

The general division of men and women into different jobs and sectors.

Socialization theory

The idea that gender socialization leads men and women to prefer different occupations.

Vulnerable employment

Low-paid informal jobs with fewer protections compared to formal employment.