Introduction

In chapter 8 we discussed the family, traditionally regarded as a woman's sphere of influence and responsibility, and considered why it is that women look after children. Here we examine the world of work, viewed stereotypically as a man's sphere of influence, and ask why it is that men still occupy the most prestigious and highly valued positions.

The first explanation we consider is that men and women possess different abilities and skills. These might suit them for the world of family or work, or perhaps for different occupations within the world of work. It is often claimed in addition that sex differences in ability arise from biological differences. After examining the possibility that different abilities may underlie sex differences in work and achievement, we consider other explanations and discuss a number of related influences – principally the impact of gender stereotypes in the world of work, and motives for occupational choice.

Before discussing reasons for differences in occupational patterns, we must consider whether it is true that men achieve greater prestige and status in the world of work. We therefore begin by examining some statistics on career choices and earning potential.

Do men get better jobs and earn more money than women?

The short answer to this question is YES. Men still fill more top jobs and women are paid consistently less than their male counterparts, although one caveat is the considerable number of low-prestige manual jobs occupied by men (Glick et al., 1995).