Men tend to move up m status over their work lives; women tend to remain at the same
level. Two types of explanation can be used to explain this difference: (1) those focusing on individual characteristics which tend to vary by sex, especially employment
patterns, and (2) those focusing on the differences in opportunity structure by sex.
Research is reviewed which attempts to examine more directly the effect of individual
versus structural factors on occupational achievement. While the evidence is not
clear-cut, it does suggest more attention be paid in quantitative research on women's
achievements to the structure of opportunity.
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