Abstract:Existing research on Chinese women's authority in the workplace has usually adopted either a broader or a narrower approach on the concept of authority. Upon critically assessing these two approaches, the article provides a clearer definition on authority. Based on urban sample of CGSS2006, this study recognizes unequal distribution of authority between women and men in the workplace. It argues that there is a significant gender gap in authority, especially in some key management positions. Further empirical research has found even after controlling the variables of personal and organizational characteristics, women's access to authority is still significantly lower than that of man; this implies that there is clearly gender-based discrimination in access to authority in the workplace.
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