Patrycja Zwiech

Department of Microeconomics

University of Szczecin

64, Mickiewicza Street, 71-101 Szczecin, Poland

E-mail: patrycjazwiech@tlen.pl,  http://mikro.univ.szczecin.pl/zwiech

Discrimination Against Women in Professional Life in Chosen Pro-Feminist Theories

ABSTRACT. Taken professional career into consideration, situation of women and situation of men differ a lot, which has been proven by numerous research presenting a worse position that women occupy in the labour market as well as factors determining such a state of affairs. Women earn lower salaries and hold lower position in the hierarchy of positions, are less often referred to professional training and have greater difficulties in gaining employment.          The present chapter is aimed at presenting feminist theories that account for discrimination against women in professional life as well as formulating the main determinants of this state of affairs. Apart from pro-feminist theories regarding discrimination against women in professional life, universal theories by Chodorow, Ortner, Rosaldo, Engels, Sacks, Sanday, patriarchy–capitalism theory, reserve army of labour theory by Beechey as well as Turner’s and Musick’s conflict theory have been referred to as well

Received: December, 2008

1st Revision: February, 2009

Accepted: March, 2009

JEL Classification J16, B54

Keywords: gender discrimination, pro-feminist theories