Supporting equality: patriarchy at work in Europe

Presents a Europe‐wide analysis of employment patterns which reveals three major characteristics of women′s employment: occupational segregation, part‐time working, and pay differentials. Examines how these manifest themselves as a European‐wide phenomenon, and in more detail looks at how they manifest themselves in France, the UK and The Netherlands. Presents data to explore the interrelationship of these three characteristics and their manifestation against national backgrounds of social and employment legislation and child‐care provision. Concludes that simple correlations do not explain women′s position in the workforce and that neither structural nor cultural theories are in themselves enough to understand these complex relationships.