Flight paths and revolving doors: A case study of gender desegregation in pharmacy

This paper examines practitioner reactions to occupational desegregation in pharmacy - the effects, for women and men, of a rapid female entry into th e profession. The topic is documented in terms of processes of integration, ghettoisation, and re-segregation. With data collected from licensed pharm acists in Ontario, Canada, we find little evidence of either genuine gender integration in the profession or gender re-segregation precipitated by col lective male discontent. While female practitioners are more positive in th eir evaluation of their jobs and their profession, there is no indication t hat current satisfaction and dissatisfaction is a harbinger of male-or fema le-flight from pharmacy. We discuss these findings in the light of argument s about a job and gender queue in the labour market.