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Gender, Hukou, and the Occupational Attainment of Female Migrants in China (1985–1990)

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  • Youqin Huang

    (Department of Geography, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA)

Abstract

In this paper, I argue that the occupational attainment of female migrants in China has to be understood in its unique sociocultural and institutional contexts. In addition to the constraints of human capital, the patriarchal culture and the Household Registration (hukou) System greatly constrain the occupational attainment of female migrants. An empirical study based on a 1% sample of China's 1990 Census shows that female migrants are at a disadvantage in the labour market not only because of their gender but also because of their rural identities and outsider status, as defined by the hukou system. They can only attain jobs with lower prestige than their male counterparts, such as agricultural work and a few gender-stereotyped, family-related urban jobs.

Suggested Citation

  • Youqin Huang, 2001. "Gender, Hukou, and the Occupational Attainment of Female Migrants in China (1985–1990)," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 33(2), pages 257-279, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:33:y:2001:i:2:p:257-279
    DOI: 10.1068/a33194
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Meng, Xin & Miller, Paul, 1995. "Occupational Segregation and Its Impact on Gender Wage Discrimination in China's Rural Industrial Sector," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 47(1), pages 136-155, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhen Li & Zai Liang, 2016. "Gender and job mobility among rural to urban temporary migrants in the Pearl River Delta in China," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 53(16), pages 3455-3471, December.
    2. Yu Chen, 2011. "Occupational Attainment of Migrants and Local Workers: Findings from a Survey in Shanghai’s Manufacturing Sector," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 48(1), pages 3-21, January.
    3. Rongsheng Tang & Yang Tang & Rongjie Zhang, 2024. "The Aggregate and Distributional Impacts of Residence Policy Relaxation," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 69(2), pages 343-376, August.

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