THEORIES OF OCCUPATIONAL SEGREGATION BY SEX - AN OVERVIEW

Occupational segregation by sex occurs everywhere, causing labour mark et rigidity and economic inefficiency, wasting human resources, preven ting change, disadvantaging women and perpetuating gender inequalities . The author reviews the principal theoretical explanations for its ex istence and persistence: neo-classical and human capital; institutiona l and labour market segmentation; and gender discrimination. Its compl ex relationship with female-male pay differentials is also explored. T hough all prove pertinent, the most compelling explanations of occupat ional segregation by sex are gender theories, given the enormous overl ap in abilities and preferences of individual men and women.