Data from black and white women ages 34-44 (1968-88) showed that differences in characteristics did not explain occupational segregation by race nor the racial wage gap. During the 1980s, the gap was influenced by widening differences in access to occupations and an increase in returns to education. (SK)

Investigated differences in career experiences of African-American women in traditional (n=85) and nontraditional (n=48) professions. Results indicated marriage was more of a barrier for nontraditionals than traditionals. Nontraditionals were more likely to report barriers to career success such as racial and gender discrimination, limited…

This paper discusses two federal programs designed to promote equal employment opportunities for women. It analyzes the impact of the federal contract compliance program (affirmative action) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on the absolute level of the earning of black and white working women over the 1967-1974 period. It was found…

The distribution of family incomes is now slightly more equal than the distribution of husbands' earnings. Movements toward equal opportunity for women are likely to have only a small effect on family income inequality. In a world with no differences by sex in work behavior, we could expect that the work experience of women and men and the…

Executive orders concerning nondiscrimination in employment have been issued by past administrations from Roosevelt to Kennedy. It was President Johnson who first used the term "affirmative action" in advocating employment regardless of race, creed, color, or national origin and who instituted requirements for organizations to develop affirmative…

Women have made slow, steady progress in the labor market since 1979, but the wage gap has not narrowed significantly. This briefing paper updates a September 1987 paper based on "Male-Female Differences in Work Experience, Occupations, and Earnings: 1984" (Current Population Reports, Household Economic Studies, Series P-70, No. 10, issued in…

One aspect of the general rise in the number of single parent households is the high proportion of them that are headed by black women. Black families headed by women tend to be larger and are more likely to be impoverished. Contrary to popular belief, many black single mothers considered poor are employed women, not recipients of welfare. An…

This collection of papers deals with various aspects of the black female experience in America. "The Black Woman in Transition" discusses the effects of sexism and racism on black women with particular reference to employment and education; it is noted that black women, in comparison with other groups in society, suffer a proportionately higher…

Examines affirmative action and other measures being taken to improve the representation of women and minorities in the State Department and the U.S. Foreign Service. Suggests that institutional barriers to improving the status of minorities in the Department include discriminatory attitudes of officers concerning recruitment, hiring, promotions,…

Discusses errors in appraisals of African-Americans' economic progress in recent history, in order to show that African-Americans have made little progress toward achieving economic equality. Considers the changing roles of African-American and European American women in the labor market as vital to interpreting economic status trends. (JS)

This paper examines the decline in occupational segregation between black and white women over the twentieth century and analyzes how shifts in the occupational structure of the economy and changes in the racial composition of occupational categories contributed to this change. Overall, findings show that the decrease in occupational segregation…

The purpose of this paper is to examine some of the factors that may help to explain black-white differences in having had typing and/or shorthand courses in high school and in having used such training in occupations ostensibly requiring these skills. Data are from the National Longitudinal Surveys, with the subsets under consideration consisting…

Although Black female leaders were influential in creating the modern women's movement, feminism has evolved differently for both Black and White women. Suggests that, although Black women have struggled largely against racial and economic inequalities, women of all colors and backgrounds should embrace their diversity and unite to oppose racism…

Data reported by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Bureau of the Census, and a literature review were used to develop comparative descriptive profiles of the employment status of white U.S. minorities in the workplace. In addition, these data were used to show the progression of African Americans into the workplace from…

Patterns of employment in U.S. industry today were studied in order to explore factors behind the low income and lagging occupational status of black women workers. The data collected for this group were contrasted with similar data for white women workers. The study found (1) substantial underrepresention in hiring black women at all income…