June 28, 2004

NEW BOOK TELLS HOW WOMEN CAN ESCAPE THE 'PINK-COLLAR GHETTO'
Anne Brooks Ranallo, (312) 355-2523, aranallo@uic.edu

A University of Illinois at Chicago professor says vocational training
is a viable career alternative for many women who do not attend
college.

Sharon Mastracci, UIC assistant professor of public administration, is
the author of a new book, "Breaking Out of the Pink Collar Ghetto:
Policy Solutions for Non-College Women" (M.E. Sharpe), which says women
with no college education should move into the trades, finance, law
enforcement and other male-dominated fields, and not settle for
clerical jobs.

"Although more women now go to college and more graduate, it remains
that the majority do not earn degrees," Mastracci said.
"College-for-all presumptions have precipitated funding cuts of
non-college training. Of the few vocational programs that have
survived, many steer women toward low-skilled jobs that offer few
opportunities for advancement."

Mastracci conducted an in-depth analysis of case studies and statistics
gathered over 10 years throughout the United States.

What she found was that, overall, women without degrees fared worse
than men without degrees. Her study also found that women working in
fields employing mainly men earned more and gained more promotions.

For women who went into those fields, government training programs were
most effective when an agency administered them in partnership with
educational institutions and trade groups, Mastracci said.

Ultimately, the training programs' long-term success was achieved when
all partnering organization leaders communicated regularly, maintained
accountability, and adapted their programs to meet regional job market
demands, added Mastracci.