Is the Gender Revolution Stalled? An Update

• In Event: 1563 - Gender Segregation and the Culture or Structure Quandary

Abstract

We examine change in multiple indicators of gender inequality for the period of 1970 to 2016. We show dramatic progress in movement toward gender equality, but also show that in recent decades, change has slowed, and—on some indicators—stalled entirely. The percent of women who are employed rose dramatically until 1990 but has stalled at approximately 70% since then, with post-1990 progress in eroding the gender gap in employment coming only because the employment of men, especially those without a college degree, slowly fell throughout most of the period. Women have surpassed men in the attainment of education, with more than half of both baccalaureate and doctoral degrees going to women. The degree of segregation of fields of study declined dramatically in the 1970s and 1980s, but very little since then; desegregation has been entirely stalled for over 20 years. The desegregation of occupations has been continuous, but has slowed its pace, despite the fact that segregation is still substantial. The ratio of women’s to men’s hourly pay increased from .67 to .78 between 1970 and 2016, rising especially fast in the 1980s, but progress has slowed since then. The slowdown on some indicators and stall on others suggests that further progress requires substantial institutional and cultural change. Further progress may require increases in men’s participation in household and care work, and adoption by employers of policies that reduce gender bias and help workers combine their jobs with their family care responsibilities.

Authors

• Paula England, New York University

• Andrew Levine, New York University

• Emma Mishel