We looked so good!
There are so many instances of inequity for women in the work force. This is a follow up post to women’s long struggle for equality. Overall, my point is we have to keep speaking out and demanding rights which are legally ours.
Here are just a few comparisons from the 1970’s until now.
The number of working women has increased dramatically – from 30.3 mil in 1970 to 72.7 mil during 2006-2010.
Women made up 37.97% of the work force in 1970 compared to 47.21%, between 2006-2010.
Occupation options: 1970 women mainly worked as secretaries, bookkeepers, nurses and elementary school teachers. How great for us between 2006-2010 we could proudly add admin assistants, cashiers and middle school teachers to the most common choices. But good news we are also dominating in the fields of HR managers, social workers, dental assistants and speech pathologists.
Overall, discrepancies in wages and this occupation segregation continues to be the reality. The most recent numbers show that on average, women earn $0.77 for every dollar earned by men. This may not be true for all women and certainly would depend on sectors and occupations.
Norma Carr-Ruffino, retired Professor SF State University, asks why are we having the same conversation in 2013 that we had back in the 1970’s.
“ She noted one aspect of this conversation is that women also must face the work-life balance. We won’t stop having this conversation until our cultural understanding of the role of mothers and fathers changes. “I would like to see the culture move to a place where the fathers could be as responsible [as mothers] so it wouldn’t be such an expectation that the mothers have the primary responsibility [for child rearing],” she said.”
Of course, we are also making some slow inroads in Corporate America and in the political arena.
(Data from Women in the Work Force: What changes have we made?)
I don’t even want to get into the recent sexual harassment cases against Bill Cosby, Bill O’Reilly, Roger Ailes, and now Harvey Weinstein. Not to mention the comments recorded by Trump during his campaign.
These developments should come as no surprise, especially in Hollywood. We’ve heard about the “casting couch” for years and the misuse of power by people for their own personal satisfaction. Recent report by the Huffington Post – 1 in 3 women has been sexually harassed at work.
Action Steps – Same as last post:
-1- tell your story – empower and inspire our children and grandchildren to be their best
-2- support other women
-3- If you see something, say something. (This is not just for kids).
To read more about 1970’s advertising take on women, this article is priceless. Image these ads and stories were being published in magazines and many from the Chicago Tribune:
http://www.womenworklife.com/2014/07/30/work-life-really-like-women-1970s/
