Occupational Sex Segregation in a ‘Woman-Friendly’ Society—The Case of Sweden

Abstract

This author discusses the degree of ‘women-friendliness’ in Sweden. The focus is on the gender structure of the labour market today compared with the situation thirty years ago. To what degree has the Swedish welfare model increased opportunities for women? The author analyses both integration and segregation processes in the labour market but concentrates on different labour-market situations in order to highlight the everyday experiences of women in recruitment, in restructuring at specific workplaces, and in the workplace closure. The focus on particular situations allows for an examination of the processes of labour-market segregation—and integration—more effectively than with aggregate statistics. The crucial question is how the mechanisms of gendering are implemented in the modern gender contract in the Swedish labour market. Finally, the future possibilities of changing the gendering of the labour market is analysed. The forthcoming changes in the Swedish welfare system, resulting from cuts and notification in the public service sector, and the consequence of the application for EC membership are particularly important as women especially depend on the welfare system for jobs, and benefits, and as consumers.