Job satisfaction and gender segregation

K A Bender, S M Donohue, J S Heywood

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

240 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Using data from the US, the determinants of overall job satisfaction are estimated as part of explaining 'the paradox of the contented female worker'. Confirming earlier studies women report higher job satisfaction than men and higher job satisfaction in workplaces dominated by women workers. The US data allow us to demonstrate that men and women value job flexibility differently and that once differences in the extent of job flexibility are accounted for, the gender composition of the workplace plays no role in determining the job satisfaction of women. Thus, women in female dominated workplaces may report higher job satisfaction because they value job flexibility and so choose to dominate the workplaces that provide job flexibility.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)479-496
Number of pages18
JournalOxford Economic Papers
Volume57
Issue number3
Early online date9 Feb 2005
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2005

Keywords

  • occupational segregation
  • gender differences
  • paradox
  • work
  • earnings
  • subjective well-being

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