Gender Equality In Employment Research Articles

Государственное регулирование занятости женщин и профессиональная сегрегация в российской сфере труда – 100 лет истории. Часть 2. 1945-1991 годы

This paper, based on a general analysis of political documents and legislative acts, examines the changes in the regulation of employment conditions and regimes for women, as well as the dynamics of gender industry segregation. The first part of the article was dedicated to the initial Soviet period and the period of the Great Patriotic War (1917-1945). The second part covers the entire post-war Soviet period (1945-1991), during which there remained a commitment to the idea of maximizing women's participation in the economy. However, perceptions of the conditions for achieving gender equality in employment changed when the country faced the threat of critically low birth rates. As this demographic problem was directly linked to the high total workload of women, a system of benefits and preferences exclusively addressed to working women began to be developed, aiming to create "the most favourable conditions for combining professional and family duties." The implementation of an ever-expanding system of benefits did not lead to the equalization of opportunities for men and women in the labour sphere but contributed to the expansion of labour discrimination by gender and the formation of stereotypical views about jobs most "suitable for men" and "most suitable for women." The article analyzes the dynamics of differences in the sectoral employment structure of women and men based on historical and contemporary statistics, demonstrating that in the Russian Soviet society, committed to traditional gender role divisions, and without pressure on women in their choice of workplace, there was an increase in gender professional segregation due to the concentration of women in non-production sectors and men in material production sectors. The empirical basis for this study relies on data from the Central Statistical Office of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) and Rosstat. The statistical analysis of gender segregation dynamics in this study employed the Duncan index, which quantitatively assesses and compares differences between the distributions of women and men across sectors and types of economic activity.

Sustainable Gender Equality: A Comparative Perspective on STEM Education and Employment in Jordan

Gender equality is a concept that is synonymous with debates towards economic and societal advancement, as manifested through the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 5. This study sets out to identify the key indicators driving gender equality in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and employment in Jordan. This area is both critical and timely in light of emerging challenges facing technological advancement, progressive economies, and wider societal inclusion strategies within the professional environment. This study predominantly employs a quantitative methodology, utilising a survey to evaluate and rank a comprehensive set of indicators/challenges associated with gender equality in the published literature. Feedback is gathered from both male and female participants. The findings of this study reveal certain categories and indicators that are highly ranked compared with others, with practical aspects such as workplace conditions and professional treatment, societal norms and gender stereotypes, and professional perceptions and underlying gender bias being more predominant in Jordan. This study also revealed differing challenges facing gender equality in employment compared with the ones faced in education. This finding resonates with the historical trajectory of academic progress in STEM fields in Jordan, and its divergence emphasises the need for a nuanced exploration to advance gender equality in STEM effectively.

Discrimination against Women in the Workplace

Although China has made great progress in women's equality, the awareness of gender equality continues to improve, Chinese contemporary environment has given women more job hunting and employment opportunities, but women still suffer from a lot of gender discrimination in job hunting and employment, resulting in female employment is seriously hindered the low employment rate. The influence of gender stereotypes and the unique physiological characteristics of women are the main reasons that make women suffer discrimination in job hunting and employment. The study highlights the persistent gender pay gap as the main discrimination women face in the job market. Women are often paid less than men, despite having the same educational background and qualifications. This pay inequality reflects a deep-seated gender bias against women. Biased hiring also contributes to discrimination against women in the workplace. Addressing these issues requires implementing policies that promote gender equality in employment, encouraging employers to adopt diversity and inclusion initiatives, and valuing women's rights. Educational programs and campaigns to promote a more inclusive work environment. By fostering a culture of gender equality, we can fully tap the potential of the female labor force, thereby improving social productivity and promoting economic growth. Discrimination against women in the workplace is a complex issue that requires concerted and multifaceted efforts from all sectors of society. By addressing the root causes of discrimination and taking positive measures to achieve fair employment in the workplace, we will provide an economic catalyst for the sustainable development of society.

Women’s rights in the workplace – EU vs. Spanish legislation on co-responsibility rights

The establishment of a regulatory framework to ensure women’s equality in the workplace has been a lengthy journey in the European Union (EU) and its Member States. In Spain, there was no significant impetus initially. Nevertheless, a few decades later, due to substantial legislative improvement, Spain is considered by many a very convenient place for women to live and work, even though there is still much to be done. This article aims to analyse the adequacy of Spanish labour regulations with the EU’s normative acquis concerning work-life balance and co-responsibility—essential elements for the achievement of equality in the workplace. To this end, detailed reference will be made to the introduction of rights through the domestic regulatory framework. Consequently, the study will assess whether Spain is one of the EU countries with the highest standards of gender equality in employment and occupation resulting from the implementation and exercise of work-life balance rights to achieve co-responsibility and resolve reconciliation issues.

Women in leadership in the party: Women’s representation in intra-party leadership and party positions on gender equality in employment

Labour policies have large impacts on gender equality in the workplace. While political parties play critical roles in policy making, it remains unclear if party-level women’s representation impacts labour policies. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between women’s representation in intra-party leadership and party policy positions on gender equality in employment. The analyses of 1,955 political parties in 169 countries from 1970 to 2019 find that a higher proportion of women in intra-party leadership results in the party taking stances more likely to favor gender equality in employment. Even among the parties we would expect to be the least women-friendly, a greater representation of women in intra-party leadership has positive influence. More women in leadership means stronger party support for gender equality regardless of ideological party placement. Furthermore, the findings also suggest that women party leaders have greater impacts on labour policies when a party leadership has greater decision-making power.

Socioeconomic resources and family formation among young Finnish adults

How do individuals’ employment or financial resources affect childbearing in Finland? Are these resources equally important to men and women, or in couples?
 This study examines the relationship between individuals’ socioeconomic resources – employment, education, and income– and entry into parenthood. The results show that employment stability is a key prerequisite for family formation among young adults in Finland. Being unemployed or having fewer financialresources is related to postponement of parenthood in most population groups, notably among those who are approaching age 30, or above it. A lack of economic resources appears to be an obstacle to family formation at several stages: first through union formation, and next, within unions. The associations are very similar among men and women, indicating that policies that support gender equality in employment are advantageous to childbearing.

“Making visible the invisible”: Exploring the role of gender biases on the glass ceiling in Qatar's public sector

Most studies exploring the impact of gendered organizational factors on women's leadership opportunities have focused on Western economies. This study investigates how unconscious gender bias is hindering women's access to leadership in Qatar's public sector. We conducted 45 semi-structured interviews with both male and female employees working in the Qatari public sector to understand their perceptions, attitudes, and experiences regarding women's career support, leader preferences, and work-family balance issues. Our findings reveal the existence of unconscious gender bias among male and female employees in the Qatari public sector. While many participants recognized recent efforts to promote gender equality in employment and career advancement, and felt that women face no barriers to their career advancement, they also expressed preferences for male managers over female ones. Additionally, while women faced more challenges than men in maintaining work-life balance, some male participants attributed these struggles to individual women's abilities rather than acknowledging systemic gender biases. These biases, both in the workplace and at home, underscore the underestimated and unacknowledged role of gender in contributing to the glass ceiling effect in Qatar's public sector.

Race/Ethnicity and Sex Differences in Attitudes Toward Policies for Gender Equality in the United States

ABSTRACT This study examines whether intersecting identities of race/ethnicity and sex are associated with attitudes toward gender equality policies, using online survey data from a representative sample in the United States carried out in August 2020. Participants (N = 2,443) were categorized as White Male, Black Male, Hispanic Male, White Female, Black Female, and Hispanic Female. Findings reveal that women across racial/ethnic groups and minority men, as compared to White men, have more egalitarian views on the importance of gender equality in policy and politics. While there is general support for women in political leadership, the race/ethnicity by sex differences in attitudes related to gender equality in employment are larger. These findings update and extend prior research on sex differences in gender equality attitudes, including highlighting the presence of a sex and race/ethnicity interaction. HIGHLIGHTS Attitudes are drivers of change when it comes to gender equality. In the US, there is majority support for gender equality, albeit with key gaps by race/ethnicity and sex. Women are more likely than men to hold egalitarian views. Men are more attached to traditional family roles for women, regardless of race. All men tend to relatively gain from patriarchal norms around paid and unpaid work.

Ensuring the freedom to conclude an employment contract and gender equality in employment under martial law

The state of ensuring the freedom to enter into an employment contract and gender equality in employment under martial law conditions has been studied. It has been proven that getting a job is an important event in the life of every person who, in connection with this, acquires the status of an employee, performs the work specified in the employment contract, and receives wages for the work performed in order to provide oneself and family with the means to existence. The national labor legislation provides for a number of guarantees to ensure the labor rights of a person when hiring. A special place among such guarantees is the provision of freedom to conclude an employment contract and gender equality upon hiring.
 The point of view of the scientists regarding the content of the categories “freedom of labor contract” and “equality” has been studied. The norms of national legislation, which provide for the freedom to conclude an employment contract and gender equality in hiring, have been studied. It is indicated that the labor obligation, introduced today under martial law, which does not require the mandatory consent of the person in respect of whom the corresponding labor obligation is introduced, as well as his/her registration in an employment contract, destroys the understanding of the employment contract as an agreement between the parties on working conditions based on free choice.
 Proposals and recommendations for improving national legislation have been provided. The expediency of expanding the list of persons who are prohibited from engaging in socially useful works has been substantiated, for this purpose the paragraph 6 of the Procedure for involving able-bodied persons in socially useful works in conditions of martial law, approved by Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated July 13, 2011 No. 753, has been proposed to be set out in the following edition: “It is forbidden to involve minors, pregnant women, women with children under the age of three, as well as persons with disabilities in socially useful works, if the performance of such works may negatively affect their health”.
 In order to strengthen the regulatory provision of gender equality in employment, it is proposed to: 1) delete the word “may” after the word “employers” and change the ending of the word “implement” in Part 4 of Article 17 of the Law of Ukraine “On Ensuring Equal Rights and Opportunities of Women and Men”; 2) to supplement the employer’s duties provided for in Part 2 of Article 17 of the Law of Ukraine “On ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men”, as follows: “do not allow discrimination based on gender when concluding, changing and terminating an employment contract”.

Gender Discrimination in Employment: BRICS Countries Overview

This article investigates the phenomenon of gender equality in employment in the BRICS countries where it is one of the factors hampering the economic development and basic human rights. The authors examine the international obligations of these states under the human rights treaties of the United Nations Organization (UNO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), compare the national anti-discriminatory norms with the international standards (ILO Conventions and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women) and evaluate the observations of the relevant international bodies recently adopted in respect of the BRICS states. In particular, the activities of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations are reviewed. In the paragraphs that follow, the national legislation and case-laws are examined. Furthermore, the reasons for the persistent gender stereotypes in the labor market, as well as the general attitude toward women’s roles in society in each country are reviewed. The authors identify the obstacles to achieving true gender equality in the workplace and formulate recommendations for improving protections against discrimination of women in employment as well as ensuring equal access to employment and promotion.

Challenges to the Europeanisation of work-care policies in the Western Balkans

AbstractThis article explores work-care policy development in Western Balkans, focusing on a critical assessment of the potential of the European Union’s policy framework to (re)shape the policies adopted in Western Balkans and boost gender equality in employment and care. Two policy measures at the centre of the European agenda are in focus: parenting leaves and early childhood education and care. The EU’s employment-oriented policy framework has met underdeveloped childcare services network and mother-centred and stratifying leave policies in Western Balkans, providing ample space for improvements regarding gender imbalance in care and employment. While the EU policy framework may provide an important push factor towards introducing gender-equalising policies in Western Balkans, it can also bring minimum adjustments. The EU’s ambiguous work-care policy framework, weak legitimacy of gender equality agenda and weak fiscal capacities in Western Balkans, and uncertainties about EU membership prospects may hamper progress towards more inclusive and gender-equal work-care policies.

Gender Equality in Employment among Health Care Undergraduate Students: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Objectives: The purposes of this study were to predict the important variables associated with health care undergraduate students’ opinion of gender equality (GE) in employment. Design: This study adopted a cross-sectional design with multistage sampling and adhered to STROBE guidelines. Setting: From one of the universities of health care in northern Taiwan. Participants: We recruited 2855 health care students and the questionnaire response rate was 78.3%. Results: Female students in this study have a better concept of GE in employment. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between the subjects’ gendered concept of family and GE in employment. From the results of multiple linear regressions, the important and significant variables were female, sophomore students, students who were in the division of continuing college self-attitude toward gender roles, attitude toward parental expectations of gender roles, those could explain 45.3% of the variation in GE in employment. Conclusion: Students exposed to the active cultivation of GE in health education largely benefit future professional development. Establishing a GE concept on campus will help students develop their profession in the future. Encourage the school to offer at least one “gender-related” elective subject per semester, especially in the on-the-job training programs to satisfy the needs of GE education.

Simulating employment and fiscal effects of public investment in high-quality universal childcare in the UK

This paper simulates the likely fiscal and employment effects of a vast public annual investment programme of free universal high-quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) services in the UK. It examines the extent to which it would pay for itself fiscally for different scenarios of pay increases. Investing in high-quality universal ECEC benefits all children by improving their life chances, especially for those living in lower income families. It also generates larger employment effects than other more typical investment policies such as construction projects and fosters gender equality in employment: not only it provides many high-quality jobs for women, it also allows many mothers to improve their lifetime earnings prospects by freeing up their childcare constraints. This in turn has beneficial fiscal revenue effects for the government. Estimations of annual public expenditure for a system of highly qualified and well-paid childcare staff with low child-to-staff ratios are performed, with universal coverage for all pre-school children aged 6 months to 4.5 years. Labour demand and matching supply effects are also simulated using input–output methods, for different take-up rates of the programme. A microsimulation tool is used to calculate increases in household income and tax liabilities and decreases in social security benefits spending. This results in a net annual funding requirement of between 28 and 39% of the gross investment. Two funding methods are then explored: raising taxation in a progressive way and recouping the cost over time from persistent mothers’ increased earnings. The former would entail a net additional contribution by the richest 20% of households of at most 0.4% of their income; the latter would require 21 to 31 years to offset the programme on average, which is within a typical working life-course following a first child’s birth, of 35 years.

The effects of COVID-19 on employment, labor markets, and gender equality in Central America

Abstract This study considers the economic impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on commercial enterprises in four Central American countries – El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. At the time of analysis, neither the pandemic nor its economic consequences had fully run their course. It is not, therefore, a definitive analysis, but it is important to try to draw important lessons as soon as possible. The main focus of the study was the initial impact on labor markets. The analysis was based on World Bank Enterprise Surveys undertaken before the outbreak of COVID-19 and follow-up surveys on the effects of the pandemic, also undertaken by the World Bank (Source: Enterprise Surveys, The World Bank, http://www.enterprisesurveys.org). These were combined with data on both government containment measures and rates of morbidity and mortality. The use of enterprise data to analyze labor market issues has some limitations but also many strengths. The data are useful for analyzing the consequences for gender equality in employment. Since the demand for labor is a derived demand, firm-level data provide a clear link to labor market effects. The pandemic has caused a significant loss in sales for many firms. This has created a loss of liquidity, which, in turn, has caused some firms to reduce employment, working hours, and wages. Government containment measures necessary to save lives, such as temporary workplace closures, have added to the burden for both firms and employees. The study starts by using the surveys to identify the important stylized facts. Although some issues are already well documented anecdotally through media reports, this method provides a more evidence-based approach. It also helps identify several issues, such as the impact on gender equality, which has received less journalistic attention. The study is further supported by a regression analysis (ordinary least squares and seemingly unrelated regression equations models) of several key outcomes (changes in sales, employment, the share of females in employment, and expectations of firm survival). A limitation of such an analysis at any enterprise level is heterogeneity and, consequently, a risk of sample selection bias. To provide robustness checks, we use a matching approach. The results suggest that a significant proportion of surviving firms are vulnerable to permanent closure. The ability of firms to retain labor depends on sales, which are affected by both the pandemic itself and the government containment measures. Only a small proportion of firms have received government support, and there is evidence that it could help both firm survival and the retention of labor. There is some doubt whether the four countries have the institutional capacity to provide effective support. If such doubts prove well founded, then support may need to be externally driven.

Tourism and gender (in)equality: Global evidence

This study investigates the nexus between tourism development and gender (in)equality in a global sample of 111 economies from 1995 to 2017. Notably, this study (i) examines mutual relationships between the two factors, and (ii) carries out a comprehensive and inclusive analysis of three kinds of tourism (domestic, outbound, and international), using two measures (spending, and number of tourists) and four dimensions of gender (in)equality (employment, education, health, and rights). First, there is a mutual relationship between tourism development and gender (in)equality. Second, domestic tourism spending, visitor spending, and number of tourist arrivals generally appear to improve gender equality in employment, education, and rights. However, outbound tourism spending seems to increase gender inequality in employment and rights. In turn, gender equality likely stimulates travel activities in terms of both spending and number of tourists.

GENDER DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE

Gender equality in employment has given rise to numerous policies in advanced industrial countries, all aimed at tackling gender discrimination regarding recruitment, salary and promotion. However, gender inequalities in the workplace persist. The article summarizes gender discrimination against working women in the workplace. Different articles have revealed that gender discrimination is a persistent problem in the workplace. The theory developed by Engels, Patriarchy-capitalism theory and the Conflict theory by Turner and Musick are the major theories that are used in this analysis. This study used a humanistic approach to textual analysis while researching and writing this essay, compared to a behavioral approach, which would involve studying gender discrimination in workplaces. Content analysis shows that females are discriminated more than males in private organizations. Further, the findings show that females are discriminated more than males in private sector than in public sector. The results show that gender discrimination decreases satisfaction & motivation and commitment & enthusiasm level of employees, and increases the stress level in the employees. The study recommends that organizations should review their recruiting processes and also stand up to gender bias when it happens.

Gender equality in labor legal relations: international legal regulation

The article analyzes international legal documents on gender equality in labor relations, their significance and role. It is noted that the issues of gender equality in employment and dismissal, the right to fair and equal pay for equal work, the creation of favorable working conditions, as well as economic and social guarantees for the successful performance of professional duties remain relevant worldwide. It is noted that extremely important norms, the priority of which is to ensure equal rights of workers, are contained in the UN conventions (on the elimination of racial discrimination, discrimination against women and protection of the rights of migrant workers and their families), ILO conventions and recommendations (on equal pay for men). and women for work of equal value and discrimination in employment and occupation), as well as in the EU directives on equal pay, equal treatment in the workplace, on the application of the principle of equal treatment to men and women engaged in individual employment and employment. activities, on the safety and health of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding, in the workplace, on childcare leave, on equal treatment of women and men in social security schemes in the workplace).It is concluded that international labor regulation and the development of international standards to ensure equal rights of workers today is one of the priorities of the world community. Defining, consolidating and implementing international uniform and universally binding standards for the equality of employees is an important step towards creating an effective and civilized tool to protect the world’s population and ensure the living conditions of socially secure workers and their families. As the examples of international organizations and the documents adopted by them show, achieving gender equality is one of the key universally recognized priorities in human development. It is international law that makes it possible to understand the essence, content, structure and importance of gender equality as a key component of human rights, the conditions for sustainable development, peace and security on the planet.

Gender diversity in corporate boardrooms and risk disclosure: Indian evidence

PurposeThe study aims to pervade the gap in the domain of risk disclosure and gender diversity, which is comparatively uncharted. Gender diversity being a crucial element of corporate governance can deepen understanding on the issue in the backdrop of a developing country such as India, so this study aims to investigate the relationship between gender diversity on board and corporate risk disclosure.Design/methodology/approachFour measures of gender diversity, i.e. BLAU index, SHANNON index, proportion of women directors on board and female dummies, have been deployed to measure gender diversity. The empirical analysis is premised on a sample of S&P BSE 100 index pertaining to the 2018–2019 financial year; which eventually gets reduced to 70 non-financial firms after eliminating 30 financial firms. To examine the impact of gender diversity on corporate risk disclosure, hierarchical regression has been used. Additionally, two-stage least square regression analysis has been performed for checking the endogeneity issues in data and validating the findings of the study.FindingsThe main findings unveil that gender diversity positively impacts corporate risk disclosure. Confirming the agency theory and resource dependency theory, its alternative measures like BLAU index, SHANNON index, proportion of women directors and female dummy divulged to positively impact corporate risk disclosure. When women dummy has been used, analysis unmasked that firms electing more than one female director on board has a higher positive impact on corporate risk disclosure as compared to firms engaging only one women director on board.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is undertaken in the Indian settings, which has its own set of legislative laws, whereas there is need to reaffirm the relationship applying cross-country analysis. Furthermore, there is huge hollowness in the domain of gender diversity and risk disclosure that calls for empirical evidence to unearth futuristic vision.Practical implicationsThe research presents managerial implications for the managers to promote gender egalitarianism by electing higher quantum of women directors on board to achieve global standards of maintaining higher risk disclosure. Adequate risk disclosure on a gender-diverse board further assures the investors that their interest will remain intact in the organization that meets legal requirements by embracing gender equality in employment. A woman in the boardrooms incarnates transparency through divulgence of risk information, which suffices the informational needs of investors. In addition, the findings insists the regulators towards staunch enforcement of effective corporate governance practice through increasing the proportion of women directors on board as they assist in dispelling risk disclosure, which will avert sceptical ambitions of managers and deconstruct their stereotype attitude towards women.Originality/valueThis study is a novel contribution in expanding the risk disclosure literature by analyzing the unexplored impact of gender diversity on the extent of corporate risk disclosures in India.

Financial Inclusion and Labour Market Participation of Women in Selected Countries in Africa

Abstract Research purpose: This study investigates the impact of financial inclusion on female labour force participation in Africa. It also complements the existing studies by evaluating how advancement in information and communication technology (ICT) and Trade openness (TO) modulate the relationship between financial inclusion and female economic participation in selected African countries. Design/methodology/approach: The study focuses on twelve African countries while the empirical evidence is based on Fixed Effects, Random Effects and Generalised Least Square estimators (GLS). Data over the period of 2005-2016 are sourced from the World Bank Development database and IMF international Financial Statistics. Findings: The results show that financial inclusion has a non-monotonic relationship with female labour force participation. The study establishes that if the level of financial inclusion can be increased to the range of 33-57 per cent, it would improve the level of women participation in economic activities. The results further show that ICT moderates the nexus between financial inclusion and female economic participation at a threshold level of 38.17 per cent. These findings persist when the TO is used as the moderating factor at a threshold value of 80.90 per cent. The results are robust enough to suggest an alternative proxy for female labour force participation and alternative estimation techniques. Originality/value/practical implications: Ending gender inequality has become one of the priorities in the global development policies in which most African nations domesticate the same for their national planning. There are voices at every corner in Africa demanding the possibility of achieving gender equality in employment, among others. This article is one of the few articles that evaluate whether financial inclusion can be used to accelerate female economic participation in Africa.

What Contributes to Gendered Work Time Inequality? An Australian Case Study

Women’s employment equality remains compromised by wage and work hour gaps, despite decades of policy action. Shorter work hours are a key to persisting disadvantage because they lock women out of high paying, good quality jobs. Such hour gaps are observed across all countries, and this paper quantifies the reasons behind them. We applied the Oaxaca decomposition method to a sample of employed adults from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA). The method can show how the work hour gap would change if (a) women had the same sort of jobs (industry, occupation, work conditions, contract type) as men have and (b) if men lowered their work hours and/or increased their domestic unpaid work. We find that men’s allocation of time in and out of the home and the jobs women typically work in are central to explaining unequal paid hours. Women’s hours would increase (all else being equal) if they worked in the same industries and had the same job security as men have, accounting for 74% of the explained work hour difference. Women’s hours would also increase if they did the same (lower) domestic work as men, or if men worked the same (shorter) hours women typically do (33.4% of the explained gap). Our study, using Australian data, underscores the need to prioritize men’s time use (shorter paid hours, longer unpaid hours) alongside improvement in jobs and work conditions to progress gender equality in employment.