ABSTRACT
The majority of occupations in the U.S. labor force are segregated by sex, but after many decades there has been some evidence that desegregation is occurring (Bianchi and Rytina 1986). When desegregation occurs, it is generally due to women entering male-dominated occupations rather than to men entering female-dominated occupations. Women often cite higher wages as a major reason for entering a male-dominated occupation (Lillydahl 1986). The higher relative prestige of male-dominated occupations provides another incentive for women (Bose 1985). A women who enters a male-dominated occupation increases her status, whereas, a man who enters a female-dominated occupation suffers a decline in status. In addition to economic concerns, most men do not consider entering a female-dominated occupation because they fear being labeled effeminate (Williams 1989. Consequently, occupational segregation allows men to maintain their masculinity in contradistinction to femininity, which, in turn, serves to reinforce the belief that there are fundamental social and psychological differences between the sexes. Nevertheless, few published studies have investigated sex and gender differences in personality and work-value correlates relative to occupational choice and job satisfaction in male-dominated and female-dominated occupations.
