Women and men, equality in question 2022 edition
This book takes stock of equality between women and men today in France. This edition follows the 2017 edition.
“Women's" jobs, "men's" jobs: in what extent do working conditions between women and men differ?
Karine Briard (Dares)
Female and male employees do not have the same working conditions. Their exposure to occupational risks differs according to whether the occupations are mixed, feminised or masculinised, as well as within the occupations themselves.
Men are more exposed to physical strain. They are more often in the most physical
occupations, and they are also more exposed to physical strain than women in similar
occupations. Women suffer more psychosocial risks. They are more often in service
jobs, exposing them to work organisation constraints, emotional demands and low decision
latitude. Furthermore, in mixed occupations, in feminised service occupations and
in masculinised blue-collar occupations, where the working conditions are the most
painful, women are more exposed than men to all risks (intense work, value conflicts,
job instability, lack of autonomy and recognition, etc.) with the exception of physical
strain.
These differences raise questions about the role of gender norms in the risks that
women and men face in their work, including their awareness.