CLOSING GENDER GAP IN EDUCATION OR ELIMINATION OF MALE DOMINATION? OCCUPATIONAL GENDER SEGREGATION IN NORTH CYPRUS

Abstract

This study examines if the low rate of labour force participation of women is the result of demand constraint which creates occupational gender segregation in North Cyprus labour market between years 2004-2014. Standardized D-index is used to calculate the level of segregation and to decompose and identify the effect of the changes in the occupational structure of the labour force and the effect of the changes in the gender composition within the occupations on segregation index. The study employed data for nine broad occupational categories (ISCO-88 one-digit) from eleven consecutive Household Labour Force Surveys (HLFS) (2004-2014). The results indicate that over the investigated period occupational gender segregation is persistent and increasing. The findings of the decomposition of the segregation index show that the increase in the index over the investigated period is due to the shifts in the gender composition within occupations indicating gender discrimination in North Cyprus labour market. The investigation of the source of the changes in segregation index by human capital and feminist theories reveals that the low LFP of women in North Cyprus is due to the demand constraints; gender stereotypes and domination of men, more than Turkish Cypriot women personal characteristics.