INFLUENCE OF OCCUPATIONAL SEGREGATION AND TRADITIONAL GENDER ROLES ON WAGE DISPARITIES

AUTHOR – JANANI K, STUDENT AT THE TAMIL NADU DR AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY

BEST CITATION – JANANI K, INFLUENCE OF OCCUPATIONAL SEGREGATION AND TRADITIONAL GENDER ROLES ON WAGE DISPARITIES, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (5) OF 2025, PG. 944-951, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344

Abstract

This study examines occupational segregation and stereotypical gender roles as the main causes of lingering wage gaps between men and women. In spite of progress made in gender equity, women are disproportionately represented in lower-paying professions and industries, while men lead in higher-paying industries. This research examines structural and cultural underpinnings that perpetuate this split and lead to differential pay.

Occupational segregation has been recognized as a major structural barrier, and female-dominated careers are found to pay less despite controlling for qualification and experience. Caregiving responsibilities and cultural expectations of caregiving roles in traditional gender constructs further restrict the entry of women into better-paid jobs and also cause career discontinuity that takes a toll on earnings. The study points to how social expectation shapes occupational activity, directing women into occupations seen as caregiving and devalued.

The research also explores how wage penalties are more pronounced in female-dominated high-skilled jobs and how low-skilled industries compound women’s economic vulnerability. Relying on international evidence, such as the United States, Australia, and Ethiopia, the paper debates the intricate dynamics between labor market structures and cultural norms.

Policy suggestions target elimination of these differences through comparable worth legislation, transparency in pay and increased work-life balance support including parental leave and flexible working conditions. The study concludes that it is necessary to address both the structural and cultural aspects in order to close the gender wage gap and ensure equal labor market outcomes.

Keywords: Occupational Segregation, Gender Roles, Wage Disparities, Gender Pay Gap