The Employment of Women in the New South Wales Public Service, 1947 to 1978

Abstract

Although merit and efficiency were the principal criteria for the management of the New South Wales Public Service between 1947 and 1978, sex segmentation remained a feature of this sector. This paper examines the reasons for the sexual division of labour in the New South Wales Public Service. It highlights the importance of gender in mediating legislative requirements, personnel practices and the structure of work. The concentration of women in low level, female occupations persisted, despite the expansion of the labour market and changes in employment practices governing women. The introduction of equal pay, permanent status for married women, and measures designed to promote equal employment opportunity were hampered by social and legal institutions that supported the existing relations between men and women. The task of removing gender considerations from management practices will continue to be extremely difficult while society supports a distinct division of labour through its social, cultural, legal and economic institutions.