Industrial and Occupational Sex Segregation Measurement Methodology: A Discussion

Abstract

During the past few decades, several indices were developed to search for the best measure of the complex phenomenon of gender segregation, for example Duncan and Duncan index of dissimilarity. Karmel MacLachlan (IP) index; Employment standardized index of dissimilarity, Size standardized Dissimilarity index, Association index under Structured Log Linear model, Total occupational concentration, Male or female-dominated occupations and Gender labelling of Industries etc. The objective of this paper is to present and discuss the methodologies used to measure occupational sex segregation. I have made attention to the question, of how the degree of segregation should be measured. It is concluded that the measurement of the level of segregation by sex is still a matter of great controversy. No index is right for all proposes and the appropriate index can be chosen according to the study's objective.