Three Structural Determinants of Participation of Women in the Labor Force: A Cross-National Analysis.

A natural study was conducted to determine the effects of division of labor (level of socio-economic development), dependency, and mode of production on participation of women in the labor force. Participation of women in the labor force was operationalized by two indicators: (1) women as percentage of the total number of wage earners and salaried employees; and (2) women as percentage of wage-earning and salaried managers, administrators, and executives. The results indicate that socio-economic development tends to push women into the labor force in general, but not into the positions high in the occupational hierarchy. The socialist mode of production has a positive effect both on the entrance of women into the salaried and wage-earning positions in general, and on their entrance into the managerial, executive, and administrative positions. Dependency exerts a negative effect on participation of women in both categories of the labor force, but it seems to obstruct the entrance of women into salaried and wage-earning employment in general more than their entrance into the managerial, executive, and administrative positions. (Author/LRA)