Exploring the Concentration of Women in Blue‐Collar Occupations: New Insights From China
利用中国家庭追踪调查和全国妇女社会地位调查数据，研究发现自尊心不足会促使女性选择蓝领职业，且自尊比认知能力和大五人格更能预测职业选择，为缓解职业隔离提供了新思路。
ABSTRACT Tackling the enduring concentration of women in blue‐collar occupations, this paper presents a novel study examining the causal relationship between self‐esteem and female occupational outcomes. To conduct this analysis, we utilise two extensive and nationally representative datasets: the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) and the National Survey on Women's Social Status of China (NSWSS). Employing various econometric methods such as probit and logit models, nearest‐neighbouring matching to counter self‐selection bias, and instrument variable techniques to address endogeneity bias, we uncover intriguing findings. The regression results suggest that a lack of self‐esteem contributes to the inclination of women toward blue‐collar occupations. Remarkably, self‐esteem emerges as a more influential factor in determining occupational choices for women in China compared to cognitive ability and the Big Five non‐cognitive abilities. This study not only sheds light on interdisciplinary research but also proposes a fresh approach to mitigate occupational segregation, a major challenge hindering women's progress.