The increased participation of youngsters in the formal labor force raises questions about how early in individuals' occupational histories sex differences in labor force participation, and the rewards thereof, begin. Analysis of current and retrospective data obtained from 3,101 suburban 10th and 11th graders about their first and subsequent jobs shows that (a) adolescents' first jobs are significantly segregated by sex; (b) girls work fewer hours per week than boys; (c) girls typically earn lower hourly wages than boys; and (d) hourly wages are higher in job types that are dominated by males. In general, differences are maintained over youngsters' early job histories. These findings mirror well-known facts about sex differences in the adult occupational structure and are interpreted in terms of differential opportunity and differential socialization.
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Greenberger et al. (1983) studied this question.