Is the long-term reduction in occupational sex segregation still continuing in the United States?

Abstract

This research note uses comparable data on 13 broad occupational categories from the Current Population Survey to analyze changes in job segregation between men and women over the period 1972–2002. I find that the Sex Segregation Index declined by about 10 percentage points from 43.96% in 1972 to 34.10% in 2002. The long-term reduction in occupational sex segregation in the United States continued during the period 1993–2002. However, it did so at a slower pace than in the two previous decades. I also find that the pattern of changes in the sex composition of occupations and in the occupational structure that contributed to the decline in the Sex Segregation Index over the period 1972–2002 substantially shifted during the period 1993–2002. The sex composition effect represented about 65% of the reduction in segregation during the period 1972–1983 while it accounted for only about 25% during the period 1993–2002.

Notes

1 Although the data for 1972 come from the CPS, they were obtained from Bergmann (1986, p. 70).

2 In 2003, the CPS changed its occupational classification scheme based on the 2000 Census scheme. As a result, the 2003 data are not directly comparable with data from previous years. To ensure better comparability, I use the 2002 data.

3 As pointed out by Charles and Grusky (1995), “patterns of sex segregation at the major occupational level are of considerable interest because they signify correspondingly major differences in socioeconomic rewards and conditions. In our continuing efforts to ferret out segregation at the most detailed level possible, we ought not to forget that much of the heterogeneity in life chances, work conditions, and consumptions practices is likely located the level of major categories.”

4 In the sex segregation literature (Anker, 1998), it is typical to label an occupation as female dominated if the representation ratio of women is equal to or greater than 1.5 times the percentage of women in total employment. If the representation ratio of women is equal to or less than 0.5, the occupation is labeled as male dominated. Concomitantly, an occupation is considered gender integrated if the representation ratio of women is more than 0.5 times and less than 1.5 times the percentage of women in total employment.