Reproducing segregated labour markets

Abstract

Only limited change in indices of occupational gender segregation has been recorded in Australia over recent decades. Using data from a recent survey of 1st year university students this paper examines obstacles to gender integration in the information technology (IT) industry. As a leading-edge sector in the 'new economy', it was initially suggested that IT occupations may be less bound by traditions, including those that shape the gender distribution of jobs observed in other sectors of the economy. However, available evidence suggests that women are significantly underrepresented in this sector, especially in professional jobs. Further, existing literature suggests that there may be pervasive structural and normative forces reproducing similar patterns of gender segregation to those observed in the wider economy.