Blog #12

I believe that this type of segregation exists despite laws prohibiting sex discrimination because of society’s gender socialization. Sex segregation is deeply imbedded in American history and it is very difficult to overcome such a trend. It relates directly to occupational segregation because as societies put pressures on women to remain in “women’s work fields” they are discouraged from moving into other industries. This is due to structure, the actual agency and culture as explained in the book “At Work in an Iron Cage”. Types of social and institutional factors that exist and contribute to the existence of this type of segregation as outlined in the book include “construction of images, symbols, and ideologies that justify, explain, and give legitimacy to institutions, organizations, and occupations”.
Advantages that women may gain by breaking into male dominated occupation are self satisfaction (as discussed in “The Pros and Cons of Non-Traditional Careers: Working in Careers that Defy Gender Stereotypes”) and making way for other women in the particular field as in “Beyond the Blue” when the women describes failing to achieve her dream of become a SWAT officer. Although she did not make it the first time she tried, she knew that in order to better herself and to better the way for women to fallow, that it was something that she needed to do. Men gain much by women entering into male dominated occupation because of what women have to offer. Not only do they gain potentially successful employees, but they also may open up their potential worker field. “The Pros and cons of Non-Traditional Careers: Working in Careers that Defy Gender Stereotypes” also tells that “For men, another pro is that you are often given positions of responsibility sooner, because, fairly or not, men are often seen as having natural leadership and other key skills.”