Women in the American Workplace

1. Each time a girl opens a book and reads a womanless history,she learns she is worth less. – Myra Pollack Sadker Women in the American Workplace A History of Injustice Carly Smith

2. Not So Ancient Hisory • Historically, in regions around the world, women have been viewed as intellectually inferior to men. • Women have been labeled “the weaker sex.” A label which denotes that they are unable to perform tasks which require strength or intelligence. • Maternity, the biological role of women, has long been also the social role of women in the household or community. • Women have always had distinct jobs within the community. “Women’s work” typically involves such tasks as cleaning, cooking, and tending to children.

3. In colonial times, many women owned businesses as seamstresses or boardinghouse keepers. However, there were women who became doctors, lawyers, preachers, and teachers. By the end of the 19th century however, positions that were “acceptable” for women were factory jobs or domestic work. Women were excluded from the professions due to the amount of schooling required. Their “duty” to bear and raise children prevented them from attending several years of school. After the Colonial Era

4. Education for girls and woman has historically been inferior to the education of boys and men. People feared that if women became too educated, they wouldn’t attend to their typical roles and their society would break down. Some men even thought that women would become sterile or barren if they were educated. Schools were formed to teach women how to read and write, but girls were not typically allowed to attend the more formal schools with the boys. Girls were allowed to attend schools to read and write, but did not progress to secondary schools. These young girls are members of this school’s senior class. Education

5. By the end of the 19th century, the number of women attending schools and higher education was greatly increased. More than 1/3 of college students were women At the beginning of the 19th century, women obtained 19% of college degrees. By the 1980s, abpit 49% of masters degrees went to women

6. Legal History of Women • Under colonial law, when a woman married, she and her husband were one under the law and the legal existence of the woman was suspended • In 1777, all states passed laws to take away women’s right to vote- a right they wouldn’t regain until 1920.

7. In 1908, The Supreme Court upholds the 10 hour work day for women in Oregon. Although this piece of legislature is considered a win against women working longer hours, the justification behind the law was that women were physically weak. • After years of working long hours for very little pay, in 1938 The Fair Labor Standards Act established a minimum wage regardless of sex.

8. Women Persevere • Over the years, the development of birth control has helped women to keep from becoming mothers until later in life, allowing them to pursue higher education at much higher rates. • 57% of college students are women- a number which continues to rise • Women comprised 46.5 percent of the total U.S. labor force and are projected to account for 47 percent of the labor force in 2016.  • More women are attending higher education than men- are we to see a turn around in the professional workforce?

9. The Struggle Continues • Even with greater rates of women attending higher education, the 10 most prevalent occupations for employed women in 2008 were—  • Secretaries and administrative assistants, 3,168,000 • Registered nurses, 2,548,000 • Elementary and middle school teachers, 2,403,000 • Cashiers, 2,287,000 • Retail salespersons, 1,783,000 • Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides, 1,675,000 • First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers, 1,505,000 • Waiters and waitresses, 1,471,000 • Receptionists and information clerks, 1,323,000 • Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks, 1,311,0 These are professions often regarded as typical “women’s work.”

10. The median weekly earnings of women who were full-time wage and salary workers was $638, or 80 percent of men’s $798. When comparing the median weekly earnings of persons aged 16 to 24, young women earned 91 percent of what young men earned ($420 and $461, respectively). • In 2000, women held only 12% of high profile jobs in fortune 500 companies. Notice that the business dress requirements for women mimic men’s suits

11. Why? • Women having to chose between family and career • Feelings of being “out of place” in certain work environments • Stereotyping by coworkers and superiors • Lack of experience • Less aggressive asking for assignments and raises in salaries and positions

12. What Can Teachers Do? • Teachers need to empower girls to play an active role in their education • Girls should have opportunities to explore and consider jobs in all kinds of industries; especially science and technology- fields that have the lowest rates of female professionals • Girls should be challenged and encouraged to question injustices and taught to advocate for their rights

13. References Horany, E. (2002). Women in Education. Retrieved July 8, 2009. Website: http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~ulrich/femhist/education.shtml Mary Beth Marklein, USA TODAY: College gender gap widens: 57% are women. (2009). Retrieved on July 9, 2009. Website: http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2005-10-19-male-college-cover_x.htm National Women’s History Project. (2009). Retrieved July 8, 2009. Website: http://www.nwhp.org/ United States Department of Labor Women’s Bureau: Quick Stats on Women Workers, 2008. (2008). Retrieved on July 8, 2009. Website: http://www.dol.gov/wb/stats/main.htm

14. Women's History in America Presented by Women's International Center. Retrieved July 8, 2009. Website: http://www.wic.org/misc/history.htm Women’s Media; What Keeps Women From Reaching the Top? (2009). Retrieved on July 9, 2009. Website: http://www.womensmedia.com/lead/89-what-keeps-women-from-reaching-the-top.html Women’s Rights Movement: Living the Legacy. Retrieved July 8, 2009. Website: http://www.legacy98.org/timeline.html