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Rethinking Occupational Integration

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Sociological Forum

Abstract

This paper uses US Census data from 1970 to 1990 to focus on “integrated” occupations—those in which men and women are approximately equally represented. We focus on the extensive variability that exists across these nominally integrated occupations, specifically their social demography and the paths by which they reach compositional sex equity. We also examine the link between occupational integration and race/sex succession, and explore the earnings consequences of working in mixed occupations. Our findings suggest that integration means quite different things at different levels of the occupational hierarchy and for the women and men integrating sex-atypical occupations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Women and Work, Rutgers University, 391 George St., New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08901

    Mary L. Gatta

  2. Department of Sociology, Rutgers University, 54 Joyce Kilmer Avenue, New Brunswick, Piscataway, New Jersey, 08854

    Patricia A. Roos

Authors
  1. Mary L. Gatta
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  2. Patricia A. Roos
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Correspondence to Mary L. Gatta.

Additional information

This is a revised version of a paper presented at the Annual Meetings of the American Sociological Association, Anaheim, CA, August 2001.

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Gatta, M.L., Roos, P.A. Rethinking Occupational Integration. Sociol Forum 20, 369–402 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11206-005-6594-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11206-005-6594-5

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