WOMEN IN THE LABOUR FORCE
The urban labour market is segmented along gender lines. In general, women occupy a less favoured position, being found disproportionately in the least remunerative and/or lowest-status occupations Neo-classical economic theory attributes male- female differentials in earnings to differences in productivity due to gender-based differences in human capital (with women being less valuable because of a lack of physical strength, limited education and training, and family responsibilities that may give rise to greater absenteeism and labour turnover). These factors, however, explain only part of the wage gap. Feminist theories have emphasised the importance of socio-cultural factors in restricting women's and progression in the labour access to market. These include the favouring of male children over female offspring i human-resource development (Box 24.4). The classification of cer- tain types of employment as women's work and the lower pay and security associated with such activities the gender segregation of the urban labour market.