Search Results

The undervaluation of women's work is a thread which links together the three causes of the gender pay gap: occupational segregation, discrimination, and women's unequal share of family responsibilities. Undervaluation, which is defined in the report as a higher quality of labour for a given wage, is nevertheless being overlooked within current policy debates and proposals. For this reason, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) commissioned a literature review to examine the available research evidence on undervaluation. The review drew on a range of differing perspectives on this issue, within the fields of economics, sociology and industrial relations and management. Some new analysis of the changing patterns of segregation and pay was also undertaken. The report is divided into eight chapters. Chapter two provides an overview of theories of pay that may inform an understanding of undervaluation. Chapter three surveys the literature on undervaluation from the perspective of the individual employee and labour force groups. Chapter four looks at undervaluation at the workplace. Chapter five considers the dynamics of undervaluation and the factors that might shape undervaluation patterns in the future. Chapter six provides information on recent desegregation and employment trends and their relationship to undervaluation. Chapter seven considers the relationship between undervaluation and performance. Chapter eight outlines policies to reduce undervaluation.

Excerpts from publication. Show less