ABSTRACT
Women outperform men in educational attainment. However, women do not get the full benefits of graduate status when they enter the labour market. Major changes to the post-war economy and women's increasing entry into the labour market have challenged the notion of the male breadwinner in the family, while, at the same time, structural changes to the economy with the decline of manufacturing has had major implications for male and female employment opportunities resulting in a 'masculinity in crisis'. One of the key factors in explaining the gender pay gap and the vulnerability to poor job security lies in the gender segregation in labour market sectors. It is noted that women's care responsibilities make them significantly more likely to accept part-time work and consequently be at risk of low pay. One strategy that aimed to address this problem was the introduction of flexible working.
