Women in the Workplace

From running for president, making up over half of the men, managing virtually of the worlds close to prosperous companies, and earning almost 60% of university degrees in the States and Europe, wo mens presence in the workforce is more than self-aggrandising today than ever. This economic empowerment of women is changing the study, as we know it. just 20 years ago, women were viewed as precisely capable of unskilled jobs and were take for granted to place marriage and children before having a c arr.In todays hunting lodge, women watch more opportunities to prevail power over their lives and chose their c areer path. In todays global economy, e rattling country should be utilizing the geniuss of their women in their workforce. For many countries, this progress has not been the same as America. For example, in Italy and japan men employment rates are more than 20 dowery points higher and womens employment rate is still below 50%. On average, women still earn signifi cantly little than men and are a minority in pass off management. Remarkable fond wobble without ConflictThe Economist found three surprising results from the increase of women in the workforce the pretermit of privilege felt from women some their new opportunities, unmet expectations of womens role in the workforce and the lack of resistance from society, especially men. The lack of celebration from women is believed to be because of the economic necessity of women to work. Today, most households are two-income and women use up got little choice as to whether they want to work or not. Their role is the only way for many households to maintain their standard of living later having children.Also, many young women take this opportunity to work for granted, because they have big(a) up in a welcoming environment where women were always give of the workforce. Although women are get aheadd to enter the work force, only 2% are managers and less than 13% are board members. Men dominate top management. America and Britains average full-time, effeminate workers earn only about 80% as much as their male counterpart. Finally, most Americans are comfortable with women in the workforce with 9 out of 10 men are even comfortable with women earning more than they do.The minimal resistance to this accessible trend, especially by men, has allowed it to adapt rapidly and with little conflict. Contri notwithstandinging Factors to this Social Change A major explanation for increased women in the workforce is the oversize amount of women who are university graduates and master copy workers. Growth of higher direction has increased womens value in the job market and has caused a shift in the woman role model as professional women, not just rest homemakers. According to The Economist, in 1963, 62% of college-educated women were in the workforce whereas 46% of those who had a high school diploma.Today, 80% of American women with a college bringing up are in the work force in contrast to 67% with a high school diploma and 47% without one. Women are in any case educated in more marketable subjects much(prenominal) as billet and management. In 1966, 40% of women obtained a degree in education and 2% in business and management. Where as today, 12% obtain degrees in education and 50% obtain degrees in business and management. Engineering and computer experience are one of the few areas women are lagging in. Politics have had a major effect on this revolution. Feminists have make municipal slavery unacceptable.Feminists have also strongly criticize secretion toward women in the work place. Weve even seen equal-rights acts passed in order to assure an equal playacting ground in the work force for men and women of all ethnicities. frugal and technological forces have also played a role in the empowerment of women in the workforce. There has been a growing demand for women in the workforce. When strength was required to work, men had the advanta ge. The growth in the service orbit and decline in the manufacturing sector has made brainpower more of a demand in the work force.This puts men and women on a more equal playing ground. Lastly, women have been more than willing and able to see the demands of being in the workforce. galore(postnominal) factors play a role in this. For example, traditional cleaning is breake easier and quicker than before. The contraceptive pill has allowed women to puddle married late, increased their ability to invest in their careers, and allowed them to finish breeding instead of taking breaks due(p) to childbirth. Major Challenges Faced with a womanhood Workforce Two major challenges have occurred with the increase of women in the workforce.First, women outride to be under-represented in top management, with only 2% in America and 5% in Britain, and are paid considerably less than men. Secondly, it is very demanding for women to manage both their career and their family. In America, 74% of enkindles believe they dont spend enough time with their children because they are constantly hoodwink their work and home life. In two-parent working households, childcare consumes a large proportion of the budget, but having one parent stay at home could result in much lower income for family expenses.Therefore, having only one income is not an option. Poor households are affected the most because of the large amount of deplorable mothers in the workforce and the unwillingness to spend public funds on childcare for these mothers. Career Woman vs. Motherhood As women become more and more prevalent in the workforce, they find themselves choosing between being successful in their careers and being a stay-at-home mother. umteen women are in challenging careers in their 20s, leave in their 30s to have children and find it seriously to return after their leave of absence.Of all the women who left work to have children, 93% of women wanted to return to work, but only 74% returne d to work, only 40% returning full-time. Also, many women find the role of motherhood damaging to their professional career. Those women in corporate America who dont have children earn as much as men, where as mothers earn less and single mothers even less. The Economist explains that the cost of motherhood is great for women in professional careers because wages increase abruptly and schedules are very demanding.Many times executives are expected to work in numerous departments and get off often. Therefore, the gap ii pay and positions between men and women may be because women are measured exactly the same as men, not because of discrimination or unfair treatment. This trend is producing high cost on individuals and society because many professional women are eliminating motherhood altogether or are forced into the fertility industry when they do decide to have children. Solutions for these Challenges For the most part, people believe that this trend will handle itself.Others a rgue that judicature intervention such as women quotas, state-funded daycares, extended paid maternity leave, parents salary, earlier preschool education, or the elimination of part-time jobs is necessary to educate these problems. The Economist discusses how these different alternatives have been used in other countries with success, but there is not enough evidence to show these measures have created the success. In fact, America has had many of the same results as these countries without taking such forceful measures.There are less dramatic steps that the American presidential term can take to improve and ease women into the workforce. These include alterations such as longer school days and shorter summer holidays or closing midday. The contend with fixing problems from the social consequences of womens economic empowerment will hold for decades to come. The Future of Women in the Workforce This trend of women in the workforce is likely to continue to grow and is apparent throughout all aspects of business. The Economist predicts that by 2011, there will be 2. 6 million more female than male university students.The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that women already compose more than 2/3 of employment in 10 of the 15 job categories today. Many women are also opening their own business, doubling that of men in the last 10 years. Women will also benefit from the war for talent because of the ageing workforce and need for skill-dependent workers. Many firms are dividing hours differently such as judging hours annually instead of weekly, allowing them to come in earlier or late, allowing Fridays off as long as hours are made up, and even allowing husbands and wives to share jobs.The corporate world is even making adjustments to encourage women into the workforce and help with the juggle of raising children and working such as rethinking promotional practices and sustain communication with mothers who are away from work due to their children, allowing them to work from home, or offering flexible scheduling. With the advancement of technology Internet, e-mail, and conferencing redesigning the workplace is much more possible.