Black Women and White Women in the Professions : Occupational Segregation by Race and Gender, 1960-1980

Natalie Sokoloff documents the complex progress and setbacks of black women, white women and black men in relation to white men throughout the most desired occupations in our society.

Women of all racial\ethnic backrounds and minority men have been hailed as the major beneficiaries of the expansion in political, economic, and employment opportunities of the 1960s and 1970s. The author uses data derived from a twenty year span of census material to provide a thorough analysis of gender and race segregation throughout the professional occupations in the U.S. during this period of massive social change. She makes clear the advances achieved by all groups-men and women, black and white-during this period of economic expansion, as well as insightfully evaluating the differential advantage of white men against all other race/gender groups. At the same time, Professor Sokoloff provides compelling evidence challenging several myths, such as that of the two-fer myth, whereby black women are said to benefit two-fold from their race and gender statuses from affirmative action.