'This book is both innovatory and stimulating and will break new ground for those not familiar with some of Goldin's 18 articles on women in the American economy. It is essential reading and should head any historian's personal reading list.' Economic History Review 'a milestone in women's history. This is a piece of outstanding scholarship based on exhaustive primary research and a high level of economic reasoning ... economic history as it should be.' Business History 'This is a piece of outstanding scholarship based on exhaustive primary research and a high level of economic reasoning which has the courage to attack head-on the three most difficult questions in women's economic history ... By establishing the facts, by applying economic rigour and by firmly establishing the importance of cohort analysis in women's economic history, Goldin has succeeded in answering all her questions. Understanding the Gender Gap is economic history as it should be.' Business History 'Goldin and her team of research assistants have not only confirmed wide and large-scale discrimination, but have added new and more positive information on America's working women.' Economic History Review, Aug '91

• Chapter 1: Women's experience in the American economy; Chapter 2: The evolution of the female labor force: The measure of market work; Labor force participation of married women since 1890; Cohorts of white married women; Cohorts versus cross sections; Implications of cohort change; Cohorts of nonwhite married women; Life-cycle labor force participation and work experience; Direct measures of life-cycle work; Work experience, 1930-1950; Economic development and the life cycle of work; Corrections to the 1890 data; Participation rates before 1890, married and adult women; Participation rates before 1890, single women; Single women in the labor force, 1890 to 1930; Summary: The work of women since 1790

'This book is both innovatory and stimulating and will break new ground for those not familiar with some of Goldin's 18 articles on women in the American economy. It is essential reading and should head any historian's personal reading list.' Economic History Review 'a milestone in women's history. This is a piece of outstanding scholarship based on exhaustive primary research and a high level of economic reasoning ... economic history as it should be.' Business History 'This is a piece of outstanding scholarship based on exhaustive primary research and a high level of economic reasoning which has the courage to attack head-on the three most difficult questions in women's economic history ... By establishing the facts, by applying economic rigour and by firmly establishing the importance of cohort analysis in women's economic history, Goldin has succeeded in answering all her questions. Understanding the Gender Gap is economic history as it should be.' Business History 'Goldin and her team of research assistants have not only confirmed wide and large-scale discrimination, but have added new and more positive information on America's working women.' Economic History Review, Aug '91

• Chapter 1: Women's experience in the American economy; Chapter 2: The evolution of the female labor force: The measure of market work; Labor force participation of married women since 1890; Cohorts of white married women; Cohorts versus cross sections; Implications of cohort change; Cohorts of nonwhite married women; Life-cycle labor force participation and work experience; Direct measures of life-cycle work; Work experience, 1930-1950; Economic development and the life cycle of work; Corrections to the 1890 data; Participation rates before 1890, married and adult women; Participation rates before 1890, single women; Single women in the labor force, 1890 to 1930; Summary: The work of women since 1790