Industrial Labour Market and the Question of Gender: An Analysis of the Female Work in the Industries of Rio Claro, S.P.

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyse the female work in the manufacturing sector in Rio Claro, S.P. First, it is demonstrated the great importance of using the concept of gender as an analytical category. In a second path, it is reported an empirical study developed in Rio Claro, through quantitative and qualitative analyses (how are the female’s industrial job supply and the women’s work conditions, comparing to those of men?). The results pointed out to a sexual division of labour in manufacturing sector, where generally, women hold unskilled tasks and have lower salaries, as an extension of the gender inequalities that remains in the whole society. Keywords: labour market, gender, female work, manufacturing industry, sexual division of labour.