Gender Segmentation of Craft Workers by Race in the 1970s and 1980s

Abstract

Unpublished data from the CPS were used to compare the rates of change in women's employment and female representation in craft occupations during periods of growth and recession in the 1970s and 1980s. Separate rates of change were computed for white and black women. Contrary to the expectations of "reserve army" or "buffer' theories, integration of elite blue-collar occupations continued despite economic downturn and the erosion of state support for affirmative action and nontraditional training. In fact, during the recession of the early 1980s, the pace of integration increased for both white and black women. Nevertheless, there was evidence of segmentation of women by race within skilled blue-collar work.