פמיניזם שחור - הבדלים ודיונים

Gender Issues in Organizations

• Women in the workforce have experienced a dramatic increase in participation rates (their portion of the workforce, specifically in paid jobs).

The Industrial Revolution's Impact

• The Industrial Revolution, occurring in the mid-18th century, significantly altered the role of women in the workforce. Prior to the revolution, women were a substantial part of the labor force, working in fields, workshops, and markets. Men also shared responsibilities for childcare and education, with the father's role being more central in determining a child's profession.

• The revolution starkly separated home life (where women often worked unpaid) from the public sphere (the paid work sector, where men predominantly worked).

• Over time, women gradually entered the paid workforce and currently constitute over 50% of the global workforce, and in Israel, the percentage is even higher, close to 60%.

Educational Attainment

• Simultaneously with the rise of women working in the paid workforce, there has also been an increase in the educational attainment of women. Currently, women globally, and in developed Western countries, are more highly educated than men, across all degrees.

Gender Equality Gaps

• Despite significant participation and increased education, gender equality in the workplace has not been achieved, as evidenced by persistent salary gaps and underrepresentation of women in senior leadership positions.

Women's Employment Rates in Israel

• Women's employment rates in Israel have significantly increased, currently standing at 74-78%. This rise is notable across three key factors:

  • Increased retirement age: Women are working longer.
  • Full-time employment: More women are in full-time positions.
  • Length of career: Women are staying in the workforce longer.

Vertical Segregation/Vertical Differentiation

• Women are underrepresented in management and influential positions, with a significantly lower percentage of women holding managerial roles compared to men.
• Further analysis reveals varying representation in different industries; financial and banking sectors exhibit higher percentages of women in management, while some industries, such as manufacturing, have virtually no women in top management roles.

Women in Leadership Roles in Israel

• Recent surveys indicate that no more than 4% of women hold senior leadership roles such as CEO or board chairperson in Israel.

Horizontal Segregation/Occupational Segregation

• Women and men are not equally represented in all occupations and workplaces.
• Women are concentrated in traditionally "feminine" occupations, which are defined by at least 60% of employees being female, such as education, nursing, aesthetics, home care, and social work. This concentration is also sometimes referred to as the "pink ghetto" or "pink-collar" occupations. These fields, which often involve caretaking and sensitivity, typically carry lower salaries compared to other fields, which contributes to gender pay gaps.

Economic Impacts of Gender Equality

• At the level of a country, studies demonstrate a strong correlation between gender equality and economic success, with more equal countries generally performing better economically.
• Gender equality leads to the optimal use of human capital, as ignoring half the population potentially limits the potential of the human capital base.
• Equal opportunities are proven to encourage economic growth and boost productivity and GDP, measured as an indicator of a country's economic health.
• Supporting women's role as mothers, providing options that allow for both career and family, is crucial for societal well-being and economic development, especially in countries facing declining birth rates, which can create future workforce shortages.

Gender Equality Theories

• A discussion of various feminist theories, including examples and arguments from the provided readings.