The dominant theoretical perspective suggests that unions reduce job satisfaction by making workers more critical of the workplace and more willing to complain. However, unions reduce wage inequality and increase worker control and commitment. A survey of 978 workers shows that unionization has a positive effect on job satisfaction. (JOW)

A comparative study of Australian industrial workers in four factories examined whether the immediate work context or social context explains the variation in orientations toward work. The analysis reveals remarkable similarities despite differences in employer, technology, and organizational structure, and in the demographic and labor force…

Past research on the spillover, compensatory, and no-relationship models has not helped to discover the structural relationships among facets of work, nonwork, and general well-being. A more comprehensive approach is presented and illustrated with data from three empirical studies of German workers. (Author/SSH)

Data from 912 respondents to the 1991 General Social Survey show men tending to display higher organizational commitment than women. Primary explanation is the greater likelihood that men hold jobs with commitment-enhancing features. Controlling for job attributes, career variables, and family ties, women have slightly greater commitment. (SK)

Respondents among a sample of 86 women in nontraditional occupations indicated that the challenge of succeeding in such occupations was a primary source of satisfaction and dissatisfaction in the first year. Later, they became more concerned with traditional sources of satisfaction and the inherent dissatisfactions of blue-collar jobs. (Author/SK)

Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972, this article identifies similarities and differences in social background characteristics, academic ability, and work values among men and women in sex-typical and sex-atypical curricula. Results show that men and women in sex-atypical majors are more like their sex…