Truss, C. and Alfes, K. and Shantz, A. and Rosewarne, A. (2012) Still in the Ghetto? Secretarial Work in the 21st Century. Gender, Work and Organization . ISSN 0968-6673. (In press)
| The full text of this publication is not available from this repository. (Contact us about this Publication) | |
| Official URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0432.2012.00587.x |
Abstract
Secretarial work has been described as one of the most persistently gendered of all occupations. Historically, it has been characterized as a ghetto occupation with three key features: low status and poor pay, narrow and feminized job content and poor promotion prospects. Twenty years ago, when a major study last took place in the UK, it was thought that new office technologies might transform the role, leading to a newly defined occupation equally appealing to both men and women. In this article, we report on the findings of a questionnaire survey involving 1011 secretaries. We found evidence of continuity and change. Secretaries are now better qualified and generally well-paid. A minority is undertaking complex managerial tasks. However, most secretaries continue to perform traditional tasks and career prospects for all remain bleak. We conclude that processes of role gender-typing are deeply entrenched and that secretarial work remains largely a ghetto occupation.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled keywords: | secretarial work, horizontal segregation, ghetto occupations |
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) |
| Divisions: | Faculties > Social Sciences > Kent Business School Faculties > Social Sciences > Kent Business School > Industrial Relations/HRM |
| Depositing User: | Cathy Norman |
| Date Deposited: | 19 Jun 2012 14:04 |
| Last Modified: | 12 Oct 2012 13:05 |
| Resource URI: | http://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/29662 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes) |
- Depositors only (login required):
