GENDER RELATIONS AND EMPLOYMENT - THE IMPACT OF OCCUPATION

This paper investigates aspects of the changes brought about by women' s continuing entry into paid employment, particularly in higher-level occupations. We will argue that, despite recent criticisms, the occupa tional structure still remains a useful framework through which to exa mine processes of social change. We will demonstrate our arguments by drawing on biographical interviews carried out with women doctors and bankers in four different countries. This evidence suggests that there are systematic differences in family building, and in the domestic di vision of labour, between women in these two occupations. These differ ences relate to the characteristics of 'professional', as compared to 'managerial', occupations. Finally, we discuss the wider implications of our findings.This paper investigates aspects of the changes brought about by women's continuing entry into paid employment, particularly in higher-level occupations. We will argue that, despite recent critic isms, the occupational structure still remains a useful framework thro ugh which to examine processes of social change. We will demonstrate o ur arguments by drawing on biographical interviews carried out with wo men doctors and bankers in four different countries. This evidence sug gests that there are systematic differences in family building, and in the domestic division of labour, between women in these two occupatio ns. These differences relate to the characteristics of 'professional', as compared to 'managerial', occupations. Finally, we discuss the wid er implications of our findings.