Date of Award
1998
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Human Resource Management
Department
Business
First Advisor
Gary Gardiner
Second Advisor
Betty LeMasters
Third Advisor
Laura Heebner
Abstract
This thesis will focus on the study of how "traditionally female" and "traditionally male" occupations impact the wage gap between men and women. It will also touch on how the wage gap has been decreasing throughout the years.
There has been considerable debate and controversy regarding the issue of wage discrimination between men and women particularly with regard to women working in male dominated occupations. Some researchers believe that the wage gap between men and women has been declining because of an increase in women's education and experience, whereas, some researchers believe it has been declining because of the decrease in men's salaries. Still other researchers believe that the narrowing of the wage gap is deceiving.
Research indicates that the number of women in the workplace today nearly equals the number of men, however, women are still paid substantially less then men regardless of the occupation they choose to enter.
It would appear then, that there is wage discrimination between men and women in particular occupations. However, it is the purpose of this paper to investigate if there is wage discrimination pertaining to women working in "traditionally male" positions compared to men working in "traditionally female" positions. Specifically, it is hypothesized that women who are employed in occupations that are considered "traditionally male" will be paid less than men who are employed in occupations considered "traditionally female". In addition, this paper will look at how the wage gap is narrowing and if it will continue to do so in the future.
The results of the author's research efforts would suggest that the hypothesis is supportable. The author concludes that the female and male wage gap will continue to narrow.
Recommended Citation
White, Tabatha A., "The Wage Gap Between Men and Women is Narrowing: Fact or Fiction" (1998). Theses. 236.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/theses/236
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