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Pay Equity Empirical Inquiries (1989) / Chapter Skim
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4. The Effects of Sex-Role-Related Factors in Occupational Choice and Salary
Pages 91-104

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From page 91...
... (1987) suggest the need to look at employment as a "two-way decision process." This paper examines how factors related to sex-role may affect occupational choices of women ant]
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From page 92...
... Women's lower earnings, then, are probably not a result of their being unconcerned about finances; instead, they may be partly a function of their initial choices of lower paying occupations and their willingness to accept lower salaries. Such behaviors may be tied to socialization processes that influPAY EQUITY: EMPIRICAL INQUIRIES ence women's views of their abilities and their standards for compensation.
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From page 93...
... Gender differences in self-confidence may likewise contribute to sex-role stereotypic occupational choices. Women s lower expectations for their performance in challenging or maledominated occupations may result in lower salary expectations and attainment.
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From page 94...
... One hypothesis may be that the salaries requeste(1 and accepted by women pursuing nontraditional occupations are influenced by the salary structure with which the women are familiar: A level of earnings that is low by male standards may be relatively attractive for a woman acquainted only with typical female earnings. This may partially explain women s acceptance of lower earnings in jobs that are typically well paying, but other factors, such as self-confidence and risk-taking behavior, may also play a role.
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From page 95...
... Such evidence suggests that women's lower selfratings of job performance, as well as their related lower self-esteem and lower efficacy, may prevent them from asking for a salary increase whether or not their actual performance merits it. In addition, lower perceptions of efficacy may actually interfere with performance such that advancement is hinclere(l.
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From page 96...
... , when it is most important to be recognized as having advancement potential. Risk-Taking Behavior Lack of self-confidence is clearly one personal factor capable of hampering women's career development, but another important influence may be lack of risk-taking behavior.
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From page 97...
... INTEGRATING SEX-ROLERELATED FACTORS The literature reviewed indicates that men and women differ in occupational choice processes, occupational information, selfconfidence, and risk-taking behavior and that these factors may all have an effect on gender differences in obtained occupation and salary. Although much of the literature deals with these variables separately, some integrative work has been done.
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From page 98...
... SUMMARY AND IMPLICATIONS Our preliminary studies do support in a general way most of the previously reviewed work and theorizing about sex cli~erences in occupational information, self-confidence, and risk taking, but the most valuable findings may pertain to how these variables relate to one another and to salary expectations. Evidence that risk taking correlates with salary expectations and attitudes regarding salary compromise, and that con
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From page 99...
... And while both sexes grossly overestimated salaries, it is not the accuracy but the attitude that bodes well for men rather than women. The economic reality that employers and prospective employees view salary setting with conflicting goals suggests that a successful strategy may be for the employee to be very aggressive in wage negotiations.
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From page 100...
... Kumari 1982 A correlational study of risk taking and creativity with special reference to sex differences. Indian Educational Review 17:104-110.
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From page 101...
... 1983 Exploring sex differences in expectancy attribution and academic achievement. Sex Roles 9:217-231.
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From page 102...
... Journal of A pplied Social Psychology 14:399 412. PAY EQUITY: EMPIRICAL INQUIRIES Mallan, L
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From page 103...
... W 1981 Occupational self-selection: A human capital 1982 approach to sex differences in occupational structure.
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From page 104...
... W Mueller 1985 Sex differences in earnings: The influence of industrial sector, authority hierarchy, and human capital variables.
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Key Terms

  • sex differences
  • vocational behavior
  • gender differences
  • occupational choices
  • psychological reports

  • nontraditional occupations
  • social psychology
  • personnel psychology
  • salary expectations
  • occupational choice

  • occupational information
  • empirical inquiries
  • preliminary studies
  • female managers
  • applied psychology

  • lower paying
  • overestimated salaries
  • occupational behavior
  • job performance
  • career behavior

  • business administration
  • lower salaries
  • role models
  • factors related
  • guidance quarterly

  • dissertation abstracts
  • abstracts international
  • vocational guidance
  • occupational preferences
  • van der


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