| Abstract: | This article describes some of the major results of a study1 which examines the complex problem of women's underachievement in paid work. Through an investigation of female clerical staff and their experience of one major Civil Service department, an analysis is made of the internal organization and processes and their effect on women's promotion success. The conclusion is that the internal labour market of the Civil Service is structured to men's conventional employment patterns and both formal and informal factors combine to keep the majority of women at a disadvantage in paid work. The very few women who do achieve have to accept and adopt conventionally male characteristics in both their work situation and their family life. |
