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Institutional change and gender inequalities at labour market entry: a comparison of Estonia, Russia, and East and West Germany
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Abstract Our study investigates how gender inequalities in job opportunities evolved during communist and post-communist times in former state-socialist countries. Theoretical arguments (mainly based on studies referring to Western countries) led to the expectation of a surge in gender inequalities in these ... view more
Our study investigates how gender inequalities in job opportunities evolved during communist and post-communist times in former state-socialist countries. Theoretical arguments (mainly based on studies referring to Western countries) led to the expectation of a surge in gender inequalities in these countries after the collapse of communism. Empirically, we explore the gender gap in job authority upon labour market entry by using life-history data from Russia, Estonia, and East Germany, with West Germany serving as a control case. The selection of countries was motivated primarily by the availability of rich life-history data, covering four decades of (post-) state socialism but also by divergences in institutional set-ups in the course of transition from state socialism to a liberalised market economy. Our findings yield four major results. First, accounting for education and the branch of economy, women were not disadvantaged during Soviet times; instead, we have even found evidence of a slight female advantage in Estonia and East Germany. Thus, our findings mirror the communist regime's effectiveness in equalising women's and men's opportunities at work. Second, in the pre-collapse decade, the advantage of women in terms of job authority decreased in East Germany and Estonia, whereas in Russia, women fell behind men. Third, with the Soviet Union collapse, a remarkable female disadvantage emerged in all formerly state socialist countries under scrutiny. In addition, we observe a growing gender gap in West Germany in the same period. The latter result strengthens the conclusion that times of economic liberalisation may go hand-in-hand with increasing gender inequalities.... view less
Keywords
gender relations; institutional change; Federal Republic of Germany; post-communist society; Russia; transitional society; comparative research; deprivation; inequality; employment office; labor market; Estonia; gender
Classification
Macrosociology, Analysis of Whole Societies
Women's Studies, Feminist Studies, Gender Studies
Labor Market Research
Free Keywords
Gender inequality; job authority; labour market entry
Document language
English
Publication Year
2017
Page/Pages
p. 17-40
Journal
Studies of Transition States and Societies, 9 (2017) 2
ISSN
1736-8758
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed