Gender segmentation at work in China's privatized rural industry: Some evidence from Shandong and Jiangsu

In this paper we argue that labor segmentation exists along gender lines in the newly privatized Township and Village enterprises in rural China. The results, based upon surveys of workers. enterprise managers, and local officials, indicate that women are segregated into production type jobs in certain industries, have less control over their work, do not receive a return to experience, and are adversely affected by wage discrimination. There is a clear gender bias in favor of men in share holding, a new and important form of workplace benefit that confers wealth and affects control within the workplace and thus, privatization has contributed to gender segmentation. The results support the general argument that the process of economic transition is not gender-neutral. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.