comprise a much higher, but decreasing proportion, of the unemployed who have registered with unemployment offices. In 1992, 72.1 percent of the registered unemployed were women. This percentage decreased to 60.3 in 1996. The strong social stigma associated with unemployment, and the meager benefits available, suggest that under-registration of official unemployment is likely. Contributing to this problem is the hidden unemployment that has resulted from required reductions in hours or mandatory administrative leave, both of which have greatly increased. In 1995, 33 percent of unemployed women compared to 23 percent of unemployed men had secondary professional education. Many women who are nominally employed have shortened work weeks or are on required leave. In areas with a proportionately greater share of women - such as insurance, finance, trade, and food service - women are experiencing greater competition from men as these fields become more lucrative. Discriminatory hiring practices in the workplace abound. Protective labor legislation serves as a deterrent for private business owners to hire young women of childbearing age. Bylaw, women are given up to two years of maternity leave, without losing their jobs. Many other provisions, such as those that prohibit the dismissal of single mothers, are not widely enforced. While discrimination is officially discouraged, it exists. Open discrimination and mistreatment of women appear to be particularly widespread in the private sector where women may be requested to provide sexual favors or are sexually abused by their bosses. Older women who lose their jobs often encounter age discrimination. Job advertisements often read 'young, attractive,' or 'over 25 need not apply.' Western firms that would not be allowed to engage in these practices in their own countries frequently engage in them in Russia. This is all prevalent because government employers discriminate against wome...
