Occupational well-being: sex differences at work

Cox, Tom; Thirlaway, Michele; Cox, Sue

doi:10.1080/00140138408963518

Cited by 25 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…In addition to sex differences in work practices and communication, there is an unresolved debate in regard to the potential health effects to women due to their multiple roles of parenting, domestic responsibilities, and occupational demands (9,10,18,20,23,24). Despite some trends toward increasing parenting and household roles for fathers, the main change has been an expansion of women into the workforce, not a shifting of domestic responsibilities between men and women.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite some trends toward increasing parenting and household roles for fathers, the main change has been an expansion of women into the workforce, not a shifting of domestic responsibilities between men and women. Some researchers argue that the expanded roles of women as housekeeper, mother, and worker benefit women's health by improving self-esteem, social networking, and social economic status, and by providing multiple outlets for the release of stress and depression (24). Others suggest that women's health will be negatively affected because of workplace exposures, stress, and fatigue (25).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sex Differences in Work-related Injury Rates among Electric Utility Workers

Kelsh¹,

Sahl

1996

American Journal of Epidemiology

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Few epidemiologic studies have evaluated sex differences in work-related injury rates. In this study, the authors examined injury trends by type of injury, severity of injury, and how the injury occurred among a cohort of 9,582 female and 26,898 male electric utility workers employed during 1980-1992 by the Southern California Edison Company. Sex-specific unadjusted injury rates were higher throughout the period for male workers. However, after adjustment for occupation, job experience, and age, elevated rate ratios indicate that female workers have higher injury rates. Mantel-Haenszel summary rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals were 1.49 (1.43-1.54) for all types of injuries, 1.27 (1.16-1.39) for head and neck injuries, 1.48 (1.38-1.58) for upper extremity injuries, 1.11 (1.01-1.21) for back injuries, and 2.11 (1.97-2.25) for lower extremity injuries. The rate ratios were slightly higher for more severe injuries, which suggests that potential reporting bias was not a likely explanation for these findings. The authors conclude that differences between male and female workers in training, physical capacity, task assignments, and other factors could explain these injury trends.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex Differences in Work-related Injury Rates among Electric Utility Workers

Kelsh¹,

Sahl

1996

American Journal of Epidemiology

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“…Not until the start of the twentieth century were questions concerning women's occupational health asked in an organized manner by scientists such as Alice Hamilton. Previously, it had been argued that since women's paid employment was infrequent or fleeting, any potential ill effects were negligible compared to those of the male workforce (Stellman, 1977;DeKoninck, 1983;Messing, 1983;Cox, 1984). Furthermore, the primary focus was on occupational mortality.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heat Exposure Standards and Women's Work

Brabant

1992

Women & Health

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Although there is an abundant literature on the health effects of occupational heat exposure, very few authors have addressed the question of the effects of heat stress on women workers. Knowledge about the effects of work in hot environments is mainly derived from the study of "heavy" muscular activity and current heat exposure standards are based on an energy criterion according to metabolic load. Metabolic load does not reflect cardiac strain associated with sedentary, repetitive work, involving static effort. The research presented here was conducted in an industrial laundry with 11 women mangle operators exposed to moderate heat stress during the summer months and whose work activity is classified as light on the basis of energy expenditure. Physiological and symptomatological responses, work activity and ambient temperature were assessed over 3 complete work days in summer and in winter. Recorded and perceived temperature, discomfort, feelings of fatigue and symptoms of thermal stress were significantly higher in summer than in winter. Symptoms of drowsiness and musculo-skeletal aches were reported equally in both seasons. Heart rate was high in both seasons, as were calculated indices of cardiac strain. Recommended limits for cardiac strain were surpassed significantly more often in summer than in winter. It is suggested that threshold levels should be redefined to include the prevention of cardiac strain resulting from cumulative effects of heat stress and sedentary, repetitive activity, typical of many women's job with low energy requirement.

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“…As a result, anthropometric data of male workers are extrapolated to define women at work whenever necessary. Such an approach is likely to be inaccurate due to obvious anthropometric, physiological and biomechanical differences between male and female subjects (Roozbazar et al, 1979;Cox et al, 1984). The body dimensions vary with age, sex and different ethnic groups (Sanders and McCormick, 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%