Women in Men’s worlds: gender segregation and social closure in the access to masculine occupations

Abstract

Available figures show that women almost equal men as the active population, however they also indicate that Spanish women continue to perform fewer occupations. This article seeks to offer an updated and complex look at the issue of occupational segregation by gender in Spain. To do this, we revise the features of occupational segregation by gender in Spain based on the available statistical data. Then, the concept of gender social closure is proposed, in order to understand what closure mechanisms are preventing women from accessing predominantly male occupations. Our analysis is the result of studying seven male occupations (computer science, mechanics in small motor vehicle repair shops, construction officials, port stevedores, train drivers, commercial aviation pilots and National Police) through the case study strategy. In our research, we conclude that the stereotyped images of occupations are the closing mechanism shared by all the cases analyzed and the importance of early decisions related to career choice in educational trajectories is also confirmed. Our main conclusion is that each closure mechanism needs its own equality public policy and that concrete measures are needed if we want to reduce occupational segregation by gender, as well as all its consequences.