Job Satisfaction and Gender

Abstract

This study uses quantitative and qualitative survey data to examine the job satisfaction of male and female employees at Iowa newspapers. Responses to open-ended questions indicated qualitative differences in the issues men and women considered salient and in the discourses they used to talk about their work. Male respondents were more likely to use language that evoked professional efficacy and emphasized presence. Female respondents more likely to use language that related to production and emphasized position. The findings also indicate a gender discrepancy related to income and financial status; men reported higher salaries and indicated greater financial security than women. Economic environment emerged as a salient issue for both male and female employees. Overall, the findings support the use of qualitative data to explore issues related to gender and job satisfaction and suggest organizational factors play an important role in newspaper employees’ attitudes and perceptions about their work.

KEYWORDS:

• gender
• job satisfaction
• newspapers
• women and the media

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Data provided to the author by the Iowa Newspaper Association.

2. The US Census Bureau estimates that 28.4 percent of news analysts, reporters, correspondents, 40.7 percent of editors, and 46.8 percent of general and operations managers in Iowa are over 45 (“12w. Detailed Census Occupation by Older Age Groups, Sex, and Race/Ethnicity for Worksite Geography, Total Population,” https://www.census.gov/people/eeotabulation/data/eeotables20062010.html). For state demographics, see the State Data Center of Iowa, “Iowa Quick Facts” (www.iowadatacenter.org/quickfacts).