This study examines the gender dimension of occupational exposure to contagious diseases spread by the respiratory or close-contact route. It shows that in Europe, women are more exposed to contagion, as they are more likely than men to work in occupations that require high levels of contact and physical proximity at work. Women are also less likely to be able to work remotely, which contributes to their increased exposure. The study finds that gender is a more important factor in workers’ exposure to contagion than their education or age. This gender difference in exposure can be largely attributed to patterns of sectoral segregation and to the segregation of women within sectors into occupations that require more interpersonal interactions. Finally, results reveal heterogenous cross-country patterns in gender gaps in exposure to contagion in the workplace, with Nordic, Continental, and Baltic countries showing relatively large gender gaps to the disadvantage of women.

HIGHLIGHTS

• In Europe, gender is more important than education or age in determining workers’ levels of exposure to contagion.

• Women are more exposed to contagion in the workplace than men.

• Jobs performed by women require more contact and physical proximity at work than jobs performed by men.

• The gender gap in exposure can be largely attributed to patterns of sectoral segregation.

• The gender differences are particularly large in the Nordic, Continental, and Baltic countries.

这项研究检查了职业接触由呼吸或近距离接触途径传播的传染性疾病的性别维度。它表明，在欧洲，妇女比男性更容易受到传染，因为她们比男性更有可能从事需要高水平接触和身体亲近的工作。妇女也不太可能进行远程工作，这增加了她们的暴露程度。该研究发现，性别是工人接触传染病的重要因素，而不是其教育程度或年龄。性别上的这种差异在很大程度上可归因于部门隔离的模式以及部门内的妇女隔离到需要更多人际互动的职业中。最后，

强调

• 在欧洲，在确定工人接触传染病的程度方面，性别比受教育程度或年龄更重要。

• 与男性相比，女性在工作场所更容易传染。

• 与男性相比，女性从事的工作在工作中需要更多的接触和身体上的亲近感。

• 暴露中的性别差距在很大程度上可归因于部门隔离的模式。

• 在北欧，大陆和波罗的海国家，性别差异特别大。