ABSTRACT

Women's careers have been a topic of research and discussion in many disciplines including sociology, business, industrial, organisational and vocational psychology, and career guidance. Despite the introduction of equal employment legislation in many countries, women’s patterns of career development continue to reflect structural labour market disadvantage.

This unique book brings together expert contributions from academic researchers, as well as representing the voices of older women who participated in an international research investigation. Grounded in multidisciplinary empirical studies, the book provides:

• a variety of perspectives on women's careers in the 21st century
• an international exploration of the voice of the older woman
• an understanding of both the challenges and responses to women as they construct their careers.

Offering a comprehensive understanding of women’s career development throughout the lifespan, this book will be of key interest to academics and researchers from the fields of education, psychology, management, geography, labour market economics and sociology, as well as career practitioners, managers, trainers, researchers and policy developers.

 

chapter 1|8 pages

Introduction

part I|68 pages

The international context

chapter 2|15 pages

Geographical perspectives on women's careers

Why and how space matters

chapter 3|15 pages

Work and older women

Interdisciplinary perspectives from India

chapter 4|11 pages

Falling between the cracks

Older women and employer policymaking

chapter 5|14 pages

When good jobs go bad and bad jobs get worse

Women's progression opportunities in a polarised labour market

chapter 6|11 pages

Organisational perspectives on women's careers

Disappointments and opportunities

part II|140 pages

National studies

chapter 10|14 pages

Voices of older women from Canada

chapter 11|12 pages

Voices of older women from China

chapter 12|13 pages

Voices of older women from England

chapter 17|13 pages

Life stories

A synthesis of the voices of women

part III|47 pages

Looking to the future