If the second hypothesis mentioned by the author (line 59 - 65) is correct, a general lessening of the discrimination against women should lead to
Directions: The question
is based on the following reading passage. Choose
the best answer to the question on the basis of what
is stated or implied in the passage.
The existence of both racial and sexual
discrimination in employment is well
documented, are policy makers and
responsible employers are particularly
(5) sensitive to the plight of the black female
employee on the theory that she is doubly
the victim of discrimination. That there exist
difference in income between whites and
blacks is clear, but it is not so clear that
(10) these difference are solely the result of
racial discrimination in employment. The
two groups differ in productivity, so basis
economics dictates that their incomes will
differ.
(15) To obtain a true measure of the effect of
racial discrimination in employment it is
necessary to adjust the gross black/white
income ratio for these productivity factors.
White women in urban areas have a higher
(20) educational level than black women and can
be expected to receive larger incomes.
More-over, state distribution of residence
is important because blacks are over-
represented in the South where wage rates
(25) are typically lower than elsewhere and where
racial differentials in income are greater. Also,
blacks are over-represented in large cities;
incomes of blacks would be greater if blacks
were distributed among cities of different sizes
(30) in the same manner as whites.
After standardization for these productivity
factors, the income of black urban women is
estimated to be between 108 and 125 percent
of the income of white women. This indicates
(35) that productivity factors more than account for
the actual white/black income differential for
women. Despite their greater education, white
women's actual median income is only 2 to 5
percent higher than that of black women in the
(40) North. Unlike the situation of men, the evidence
indicates that the money income of black urban
women was as great as, or greater than, that of
whites of similar productivity in the North, and
probably in the United States as a whole. For
(45) men, however, the adjusted black/white
income ratio is approximately 80 percent.
At least two possible hypotheses may
explain why the adjustment for productivity
more than accounts for the observed
(50) income differential for women, whereas the
income differential persists for men. First,
there may be more discrimination against
black men than against black women. The
different occupational structures for men
(55) and women give some indication why this
could be the case, and institutionalized
considerations – for example, the effect
of unionization in cutting competition – may
also contribute. Second, the data are
(60) consistent with the hypothesis that the
intensity of discrimination against women
differs little between whites and black.
Therefore, racial discrimination adds little
to the effects of existing sex
(65) discrimination. These findings suggest
that a black woman does not necessarily
suffer relatively more discrimination in the
labor market than does a white woman.
Rather, for women, the effects of sexual
(70) discrimination are so pervasive that the
effects of racial discrimination are negligible.
Of course, this is not to say that the more
generalized racial discrimination of which
black women, like black men, are victims
(75) does not disadvantage black women in their
search for work. After all, one important
productivity factor is level of education, and
the difference between white and black
women on this scale is largely the result of
(80) racial discrimination.