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Noor Rahamah Hj. Abu Bakar
Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia
'Occupational Segregation by Gender in Malaysia: Factors Influencing and Ways to Reduce It'
Participation of women in the labour force is not a new phenomenon. They have been involved in various type of occupations. Analysis of trends in occupational segregation showed some changes in the occupational structure, involving a shift of the labour force into different occupational categories. Two types of occupational segregation are occurring, horizontal and vertical. Horizontal segregation exists when women and men are commonly working in different types of occupation. Vertical segregation exists when women and men both participate in various fields of work, but women are disproportionately concentrated in the lower grades of work, and men are disproportionately concentrated in the higher grades. Statistical data shows that there have been some changes in the degree of occupational segregation in Malaysia, notably in the reduction of exclusive or almost exclusive occupations for women and men, and that horizontal segregation has declined to some extent. Data also shows that there is a trend towards greater vertical segregation within the broad category of work.
The objective of this paper is to discuss the factors that influences occupational segregation by gender. Secondary and primary data are used to collect related information. Sources for secondary data are the Population and Housing Census, and the Social Statistics Bulletin published by the Department of Statistics. To get primary data, a survey is carried out on 10 families. Purposive sampling is used to get the respondents. Sampling unit of 10 families is chosen from families that have three generations, that is, grandmother, mother and daughter. It does not matter whether they are in the nucleus or extended family unit. However, the second generation is chosen as the main sample according to the highest level of education received. The families are chosen using snowball technique.
Analysis showed that the factors which influence occupational segregation by gender are education, domestic division of labour, taste, priority set and skills possessed by individuals, work environment, and local culture. With more job opportunities open to women in the labour market, serious action should be taken to reduce occupational segregation. There are three things that can assist women workers to widen their work scope and that will indirectly the occupational segregation that exists. These are: implementing 'women friendly' policies such as setting up child care facilities and maternity protection, the reorganization of work, and improvement in education and training policies.
Bio: Noor Rahamah Hj. Abu Bakar is currently a lecturer in the Center of Social, Development and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. She obtained her Bachelor in Business Administration from The Ohio University, USA in 1979 and her Master in Business Administration from New Hampshire College, USA in 1985. Her primary area of teaching includes Business Management and Organizational Development. Her research interest is in the area of woman and gender in the labour force in Malaysia. She often present papers at national and international conferences. She has published several articles on women and gender in Malaysia. Her major publications are "Obstacles to the participation of women in the labour market in Malaysia" (2003), "Occupational segregation by gender in Malaysia" (2002), "Occupational segregation in the labour market: a theoretical approach" (2002), "Working women and their families: a case study" (1996), "Women participation in paid employment: a case study" (1993), "Female hawkers in Malaysia : a case study" (1992), "The changing role of rural women in Malaysia: a case study" (1991), "Hawkers in selected towns in Malaysia: various social economic aspect" (1991), "Participation of rural women labour force in development" (1990).
<rahamah@pkrisc.cc.ukm.my>