Vulnerability to the Effects of Recession: Minority and Female Workers

Abstract

Neo-Marxist crisis theory and sectoral analysis are used to analyze differential vulnerability to the effects of recessions among minority and female workers. The 1974-75 recession is used as a case study to examine the numerous labor market consequences encountered by workers employed in various industrial and service sectors. By focusing crisis theory on the 1974-75 slump, conclusions are reached about the relationship among sectoral analysis, differential vulnerability to labor market disruption, and discrimination directed toward minority and female workers. Inconsistent with neo-Marxist predictions, the data show more support for an explanation based on simple labor market discrimination. Sociologists have produced a fairly extensive literature examining socioeconomic attainment and income differences between racial and ethnic groups (e.g., Becker 1971; Cummings 1980; Cutright 1965; Farley 1977; Glenn 1963, 1966; Greeley 1974; Poston and Alvirez 1973; Reich 1971; Szymanski 1976). Additionally, much sociological research has been done on employment inequities between males and females (e.g., Epstein 1970; Fuchs 1971; Goldberg 1969; Rosenfeld 1980; Stevenson 1974; Sutter and Miller 1973; Weisskoff 1972; Zeilner 1973). Sociological researchers have also examined wage and employment differentials between workers in various sectors of the economy (Averitt 1968; Beck, Horan, and Tolbert 1976; Bibb and Form 1977; Hodson 1978, 1983, 1984; Reich, Gordon, and Edwards 1973). Despite the growing body of literature associating race and gender with labor market inequities, sociologists have not systematically examined the differential impact of economic collapse on gender strata and racial groups. While it is obvious that recessions and severe economic crises produce widespread layoffs, pay and workload reductions, and a *I thank my colleagues Thomas Keil, Lenora Paradis, and Wayne Usui for helpful comments on an earlier draft of this article. I also appreciate the critical assistance of an anonymous referee whose comments were especially helpful in strengthening the manuscript. Address correspondence to the author, Department of Sociology, University of Louisville, Louisville,