Truss, Catherine, Alfes, Kerstin, Shantz, Amanda and Rosewarne, Amanda (2013) Still in the Ghetto? Secretarial work in the 21st century. Gender, Work & Organization, 20 (4). pp. 349-363. ISSN 0968-6673

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Abstract

Secretarial work has been described as one of the most persistently gendered of all occupations. Historically, it has been characterized as a ghetto occupation with three key features: low status and poor pay, narrow and feminized job content and poor promotion prospects. Twenty years ago, when a major study last took place in the UK, it was thought that new office technologies might transform the role, leading to a newly defined occupation equally appealing to both men and women. In this article, we report on the findings of a questionnaire survey involving 1011 secretaries. We found evidence of continuity and change. Secretaries are now better qualified and generally well-paid. A minority is undertaking complex managerial tasks. However, most secretaries continue to perform traditional tasks and career prospects for all remain bleak. We conclude that processes of role gender-typing are deeply entrenched and that secretarial work remains largely a ghetto occupation.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	secretarial work, horizontal segregation, ghetto occupations
Schools and Departments:	School of Business, Management and Economics > Business and Management
Subjects:	H Social Sciences H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Depositing User:	Joy Blake
Date Deposited:	19 Jun 2012 14:04
Last Modified:	02 Apr 2014 08:57
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/47905

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