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Women’s Work in Australia: Trends, Issues and Prospects

Author

Listed:
  • Alison Preston

    (Curtin University)

  • John Burgess

    (University of Newcastle)

Abstract

Notwithstanding massive change in women’s educational outcomes, labour market activity and fertility levels, the last two decades has seen no change in the share of participating women in the full-time labour market, little change in the overall distribution of women across jobs and little change in the size of the Australian gender pay gap. These facts are not easily accounted for by conventional neo-classical theory suggesting the presence of some strong and persistent normative forces (e.g. ideology with respect to gender roles) in the shaping of women’s labour market outcomes. This paper explores the prospects for gender equality within contemporary Australia and concludes that, in the absence of political will and fundamental institutional and social change, the prospects are grim.

Suggested Citation

  • Alison Preston & John Burgess, 2003. "Women’s Work in Australia: Trends, Issues and Prospects," Australian Journal of Labour Economics (AJLE), Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin Business School, vol. 6(4), pages 497-518, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:ozl:journl:v:6:y:2003:i:4:p:497-518
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gillian Whitehouse & Betty Frino, 2003. "Women, Wages and Industrial Agreements," Australian Journal of Labour Economics (AJLE), Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin Business School, vol. 6(4), pages 579-596, December.
    2. Judy Wajcman, 2000. "Feminism Facing Industrial Relations in Britain," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 38(2), pages 183-201, June.
    3. Matthew Gray & Lixia Qu, 2003. "Determinants of Australian Mothers’ Employment: An Analysis of Lone and Couple Mothers," Australian Journal of Labour Economics (AJLE), Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin Business School, vol. 6(4), pages 597-617, December.
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    5. Jefferson, T & Preston, A, 2003. "Bargaining for welfare: Gender consequences of Australia's dual welfare model," Australian Bulletin of Labour, National Institute of Labour Studies, vol. 29(1), pages 76-96.
    6. Jefferson, Therese & Preston, Alison, 2003. "Bargaining for welfare: Gender consequences of Australia's dual welfare model," Australian Bulletin of Labour, National Institute of Labour Studies, vol. 29(1), pages 76-96.
    7. Rosslyn Reed & Margaret Allen, 2003. "‘I Mean, You Want to be There for Them’: Young Australian Professionals Negotiating Careers in a Gendered World," Australian Journal of Labour Economics (AJLE), Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin Business School, vol. 6(4), pages 519-536, December.
    8. Martin Watts, 2003. "The Evolution of Occupational Gender Segregation in Australia: Measurement and Interpretation," Australian Journal of Labour Economics (AJLE), Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin Business School, vol. 6(4), pages 631-655, December.
    9. Karen Mumford & Antonia Parera-Nicolau, 2003. "The Labour Force Participation of Married Mothers: A Tale of International Catch-Up," Australian Journal of Labour Economics (AJLE), Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin Business School, vol. 6(4), pages 619-630, December.
    10. Jenny Whittard, 2003. "Training and Career Experiences of Women Part-time Workers in a Finance Sector Organisation: Persistent Remnant of the ‘Reserve Army’?," Australian Journal of Labour Economics (AJLE), Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin Business School, vol. 6(4), pages 537-557, December.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Economics of gender; Labour force and employment; Time allocation and labour supply;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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