SOSC 200Y Gender and Society Lecture 19: Sexual Division and Capitalist Patriarchy

L19: Proportion of females in total employment by major occupation category (2002)

L19: Gender and Employment Vertical segregations –Males are clustered in higher ranking jobs (i.e. managerial & administrative staff of the company) –While females are occupying those lower ranking and lower paid jobs (i.e. clerical workers) Horizontal segregations –Boys and girls are working in different economic sectors (manufacturing vs construction) –Boys in professional sectors (i.e. engineers) while girls as service providers (i.e. nurse, teachers)

L19: Gender and Income In 2001, the median income for total working population: female is HK$8,500; male is HK$12,000 gender differences: 29% Median income for unskillful workers: female is HK$3,900; male is HK$7,500 gender differences: 48%

L19:

Female subordination in the workplace: –Clustered in few types of occupations –Inferior post with low paid –Less opportunity for promotion Gender inequality in employment

L19: Female’s individual choice? –Female choose certain ‘appropriate’ type of training and education. –Female try to balance the demand of family and workplace. Employers’ discrimination? –Choice against market rules (Irrational calculation)

L19: Lower Income, less promotion

L19: Marxist Feminist When capitalism meets patriarchy… –Gender inequality is rooted in class oppression under capitalism –Women provide ‘free’ private household labour and service  extract more work from wage labour –Historical studies of ‘Industrialization’ and family The emergence of the modern role of ‘housewife’ The role of caring at home Increase women’s dependency Women serve only as “secondary breadwinners”

L19: Marxist Feminist (cont’) When capitalism meets patriarchy… –Women provide the reserve labour that capitalists can call on when needed. Labour market segmentation: core and peripheral workers Secondary/ peripheral workers: flexible supply, weak unity, low bargaining power Reserve army of labour: to meet the need of periodological depression

L19: Suggested Readings: Wharton, Amy S. (2005) The Sociology of Gender: An Introduction to Theory and Research, Malden: Blackwell Publication, ch.6