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Still in the Ghetto? Secretarial work in the 21st century
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 16:55 authored by Catherine Truss, Kerstin Alfes, Amanda Shantz, Amanda RosewarneSecretarial 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.
History
Publication status
- Published
Journal
Gender, Work & OrganizationISSN
0968-6673Publisher
BlackwellExternal DOI
Issue
4Volume
20Page range
349-363Department affiliated with
- Business and Management Publications
Full text available
- No
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2012-06-19Usage metrics
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