Jerry A. Jacobs - "Long-Term Trends in Occupational Segregation by Sex"

This article can be summed up quite quickly. Jacobs is addressing a controversy over long-term trends in occupational sex segregation (OSS) by using a recoding occupational classifications in a more consistent manner than previous studies. In 1968, Gross reported that OSS has been remarkably stable since the turn of the century. This finding is quite problematic for human capital theory in economics as well as the modernization approach in sociology. Both these views predict increasing integration as women's labor force participation increases, the long-term trends show no such change. HC theory, s does modernization theory, that discrimination (ascriptive criteria) will be eroded by the competitive marketplace because it is held to cost the discriminators. In addition, HC theory predicts that women's choices will also result in the demise of voluntary segregation. The increased work experience of women and their subsequent greater investment in occupational skills should reduce the sex difference in occupational choices.

So what about this long-term stability of OSS that does not fit theory? Some say that it is simply a result of inconsistent occupational classifications from census to census. It is not an accurate representation of the trend. Gross's methods have been greatly criticized. Jacobs tries to clear up this issue by using a more consistent classification. He says that the finding of steadily decreasing OSS will support the HC theory and modernization theory. On the other hand, the finding of relatively stable OSS will support structuralist perspectives on sex segregation who argue that it tends to be self-sustaining and one institutionalized it is difficult to eradicate.

He examines sex segregation using 1900, 1910, 1950, 1970, 1980, and 1986 census data. He measures OSS in 1900 using both the 1900 and 1950 occupation classifications ( he uses the index of dissimilarity and size-standardized index of dissimilarity: this number represents how many women (or men) would have to change jobs in order to be distributed in the same manner as men). He also measures OSS in 1910 using both the 1910 and 1980 classifications. And, he compares 1910, 1970, 1980, and 1986 data using the 1980 classifications.

So what does Jacobs find? Relatively stable long-term levels of OSS. "Gross's (1968) conclusions about the long-term stability in sex segregation are corroborated and are not artifacts of changing classification. However, nonfarm segregation has declined somewhat since 1900" (pg. 171). There was approximately a 7-point decline between 1900 and 1970 and another 7-point decline since 1970. Jacobs argues that these results do not provide definite support for any theory of sex segregation. Human capital theorists can emphasize the modest decline that has occurred, and structuralists can point to the continuity of segregation as evidence of the persistence of discrimination. He says that the results seem consistent with Kessler-Harris's view. She argues that change has been incremental over the long-term, but that there are potentially radical consequences for incremental change. Finally, he recommends that structuralists focus on identifying the conditions under which the degree of OSS would be expected to change.