while in south africa labour force participation rates of men and women have been slowly converging in there was still more than a percentage point gender gap furthermore as argued by de brauw and russel women s labour market experience might also be affected by possible time outside the labour market due to childrearing or other domestic tasks the responsibilities for which often fall disproportionately on women see blau and kahn therefore in the analysis in this chapter women s labour market experience is adjusted downwards by four years see de brauw and russell they may receive commission in return for the work or service they perform