Women in management, and differences in family situation : evidence from the Norwegian bank-sector

Abstract

This thesis is written in the field of labor market research. I am doing research on the bank sector in Norway, from 1979 to 1996. This is a sector where many employees have specialized education. This makes it interesting to look at using human capital- , glass ceiling- , discrimination- and gender specific socialization theories. In this thesis I have made use of quantitative methods. From quite simple cross tabulations to regression analysis using fixed-effects models. It has become more common for women to attain the same education as male managers. At the same time more women has taken the step into management. In this paper it has been shown that female managers are in a different family-situation than male managers, and both female and male non-managers. Women are over represented in the non-managerial positions. This has changed over the years, as women have attained the education types common for managers, but there are still big differences. Women are more likely to be promoted within the same sector than men, while men change more between different sectors throughout their careers. In general female managers have fewer children than male managers and all non-managers. They are also more likely to have their children after they are promoted to manager. This is not the case for male managers. They seem to be as likely to have children when they are non managers. Female managers have a shorter time span when they expand their family. This difference is significant, but not very big. Men, both managers and non-managers have children throughout their careers, except for their very last years. Female managers who started out as non-managers within the sector are also more likely to have their children after they are promoted to managers. The differences between men and women, both managers and non-managers seem to become smaller throughout the 17 year time span I am looking at. In this thesis I have tried to describe what the situation is like in the bank sector. In addition I have tried to outline what might be interesting to look at in the future.