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Drivers of Gendered Sectoral and Occupational Segregation in Developing Countries

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  • Mary Borrowman
  • Stephan Klasen

Abstract

Occupational and sectoral segregation by gender is remarkably persistent and a major contributor to gender wage gaps. We investigate the determinants of aggregate occupational and sectoral segregation by gender in developing countries using a unique, household-survey-based aggregate cross-country database including sixty-nine countries between 1980 and 2011. Using two aggregate measures of segregation the study shows that occupational and sectoral segregation has increased over time in many countries. It finds that income levels have no impact on occupational or sectoral segregation; trade openness has little impact on sectoral segregation but increases occupational segregation. Rising female labor force participation is associated with falling sectoral but increasing occupational segregation; rising education levels tend to increase rather than decrease segregation. Income inequality is associated with rising segregation. While the overall effects of structural change are small and mostly insignificant, a high share of commerce and services is associated with lower overall segregation.

Suggested Citation

  • Mary Borrowman & Stephan Klasen, 2020. "Drivers of Gendered Sectoral and Occupational Segregation in Developing Countries," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(2), pages 62-94, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:femeco:v:26:y:2020:i:2:p:62-94
    DOI: 10.1080/13545701.2019.1649708
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    Cited by:

    1. Wang, Feicheng & Kis-Katos, Krisztina & Zhou, Minghai, 2020. "Trade Liberalization and the Gender Employment Gap in China," IZA Discussion Papers 13626, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Angelo Leogrande & Alberto Costantiello, 2023. "The Labor Force Participation Rate in the Context of ESG Models at World Level," Working Papers hal-04114330, HAL.
    3. Yan Wu & Janneke Pieters & Nico Heerink, 2021. "The gender wage gap among China’s rural–urban migrants," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(1), pages 23-47, February.
    4. Hazarika, Gautam & Khraiche, Maroula & Kutlu, Levent, 2023. "Gender Equity in Labor Market Opportunities and Aggregate Technical Efficiency: A Case of Equity Promoting Efficiency," IZA Discussion Papers 16096, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Piotr Lewandowski & Katarzyna Lipowska & Iga Magda, 2021. "The Gender Dimension of Occupational Exposure to Contagion in Europe," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(1-2), pages 48-65, April.
    6. Altantsetseg Batchuluun, 2021. "The gender wage gap in Mongolia: Sectoral segregation as a driving factor," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(3), pages 1437-1465, August.
    7. Eva‐Maria Egger & Aslihan Arslan & Emanuele Zucchini, 2022. "Does connectivity reduce gender gaps in off‐farm employment? Evidence from 12 low‐ and middle‐income countries," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(1), pages 197-218, March.
    8. Barbara Martini, 2022. "Does Gender Matter for Related and Unrelated Variety? A Sectoral, Spatio-Temporal Analysis for the Italian Provinces," Romanian Journal of Regional Science, Romanian Regional Science Association, vol. 16(1), pages 1-33, JUNE.
    9. Ira N. Gang & Rajesh Raj Natarajan & Kunal Sen & Myeong-Su Yun, 2021. "The gender productivity gap: Evidence from the Indian informal sector," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2021-183, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    10. Hansen, Henrik & Rand, John & Win, Ngu Wah, 2022. "The gender wage gap in Myanmar: Adding insult to injury?," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    11. Lo Bue, Maria C. & Le, Tu Thi Ngoc & Santos Silva, Manuel & Sen, Kunal, 2022. "Gender and vulnerable employment in the developing world: Evidence from global microdata," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    12. Livini Donath & Oliver Morrissey & Trudy Owens, 2021. "Pay period and the distributional effect of education on earnings: Evidence from recentered influence function," Discussion Papers 2021-02, University of Nottingham, CREDIT.
    13. Duygu Buyukyazici, 2023. "The Gender Dimension of Industrial Diversification: What is the Role of Skills Gap?," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2319, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Sep 2023.
    14. Leonid V. Azarnert & Slava Yakubenko, 2021. "Effects of Emigration on Gender Norms in Countries of Origin," CESifo Working Paper Series 9450, CESifo.
    15. Izaskun Barba & Belen Iraizoz, 2020. "Effect of the Great Crisis on Sectoral Female Employment in Europe: A Structural Decomposition Analysis," Economies, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-24, August.
    16. Roberts, Gareth & Schöer, Volker, 2021. "Gender-based segregation in education, jobs and earnings in South Africa," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 23(C).
    17. Barbara MARTINI & Marco PLATANIA, 2022. "Are The Regions With More Gender Equality The More Resilient Ones? An Analysis Of The Italian Regions," Regional Science Inquiry, Hellenic Association of Regional Scientists, vol. 0(2), pages 71-94, June.
    18. Esha Chatterjee & Reeve D. Vanneman, 2022. "Women's Low Employment Rates in India: Cultural and Structural Explanations," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 48(2), pages 445-474, June.
    19. Cazzuffi, Chiara & Díaz, Vivián & Fernández, Juan & Leyton, Cristian, 2020. "Spatial inequality and aspirations for economic inclusion among Latin American youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    20. María Ladrón de Guevara Rodríguez & Oscar David Marcenaro-Gutierrez & Luis Alejandro Lopez-Agudo, 2023. "On the Gender Gap of Soft-Skills: the Spanish Case," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(1), pages 167-197, February.
    21. Amin,Mohammad & Islam,Asif Mohammed, 2022. "The Impact of Paid Maternity Leave on Women’s Employment : Evidence Using Firm-LevelSurvey Data from Developing Countries," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10188, The World Bank.
    22. Arora, Diksha & Braunstein, Elissa & Seguino, Stephanie, 2023. "A macro analysis of gender segregation and job quality in Latin America," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    23. Khorana, Sangeeta & Webster, Allan, 2023. "Too few women at the top of firms: Foreign ownership, gender segregation and cultural causes," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1276, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    24. Bedaso, Fenet Jima, 2024. "Occupational Segregation and the Gender Wage Gap: Evidence from Ethiopia," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1393, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    25. Alcidi, Cinzia & Ounnas, Alexandre, 2022. "Can the Pay Transparency Directive close the gender pay gap?," CEPS Papers 35738, Centre for European Policy Studies.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • B54 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Feminist Economics

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