In the U.S. private sector, women are less likely than men to be union members. This study analyzes a unique national survey (conducted in 1984) to determine if women are less interested than men in unionizing or if, instead, they are equally interested but face higher barriers to unionization. The results support the latter interpretation. In particular, nonunion women in private sector white-collar jobs (representing over half of the female nonunion work force) expressed more interest than comparable men in joining unions. This finding appears to reflect more optimism among the women in this group than among the men about what unions can accomplish; it is not explained by gender differences in attitudes toward jobs or employers. The authors discount theories that family responsibilities, or concerns of female workers that set them apart from men, present special barriers to unionization.
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