Citation

Vézina N, Courville J. Women Health 1992; 18(3): 97-118.

Affiliation

Research-Action Group on Biology of Work (GRABIT), University of Québec, Montréal.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J013v18n03_07

PMID

1615693

Abstract

Jobs are often allocated according to sex, although this distribution is not always justified by biological differences between men and women. Ergonomic analysis of sex-typed jobs in a clothing factory and in a plastics factory revealed that the total weight lifted in women's jobs exceeded that in a typical male laborer's job. The characteristics of work organization and work rhythm also differed according to the sex to whom jobs were assigned: Muscular exertion was intense but sporadic with the men's jobs, moderate but continuous with the women's. Scientific study has not related characteristics of sex-typed jobs to differences between the sexes in average size and shape. However, analysis of two cases showed that average-sized women entering traditional men's jobs may be disadvantaged, if no thought is given to adjusting tools, equipment and work stations. Trying to do a job designed for larger, heavier people may cause health and safety problems. Any improvement in the conditions of these jobs to take into account a wider range of physical characteristics will benefit men as well as women.

Language: en