PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF THE SEXUAL DIVISION-O F-LABOR - WHEN OCCUPATIONALQUALIFICATIONS AND INDUSTRIAL-ORGANIZATION COME TO THE ASSISTANCE OF FEMALE BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS

The greatest hindrances to women's persistence in non-traditional jobs in industry are psychosocial and organizational; physical difficultie s seem negligible in comparison. This study identifies the physical ch aracteristics of three categories of manual jobs and shows how they af fect the way women perform their work and their physical (and mental) health On the basis of data collected on men and women's bodily pains, physical difficulties, and psychosocial problems, the study suggests that to a certain extent, women have succeeded qualitatively and quant itatively in entering these jobs, although problems-health risks, adap tation of tools and machinery, and the ''cultural coexistence'' of the sexes-remain to be resolved in the short term. The study finally sugg ests that women could take advantage of both organization in the workp lace and their own technical qualifications to guarantee their legitim acy in such jobs.