horizontal segregation

horizontal segregation

the division of a workforce by sex or some other criteria. It is common for certain jobs in an organization to be performed solely by women, whilst other jobs at the same level are performed by men. Most female employees in the UK work only with other women. This practice has a long history due to gender stereotyping but has been reinforced by legislation aimed at tackling DISCRIMINATION. To avoid claims by women for equal pay many employers removed all males from certain occupations so that there is no directly comparable male wage. The emergence of ‘equal pay for work of equal value’ undermines the rationale for this practice.