The major finding of this study is that the rise in female labor force participation rates from 1956 to 1975 did not lower the overall level of experience. The widening gap between male and female earnings is attributed to the effects of discrimination and role differentiation. (SK)

A matched sample of Social Security and Current Population Survey records is used to determine life-cycle earnings patterns of White males. Estimated effects of schooling and experience compare well with other studies, but interaction effects with cohort do not. Military experience plays a powerful role in earnings differences across cohorts.…