The Polls: Women at Work

Abstract

A LARGE extent work determines a person's social position, so that, in the framework of women's emancipation, it is desirable for public opinion to take a positive attitude towards working women. This Polls Section comprises a compilation of opinions on the position of women in society and therefore on the labor market. The feminist movements appear to bear fruit: according to a recent study carried out by Gallup International in 70 countries, it is believed in all of these countries that the part played by women is changing. There are only national variations as to the extent of change. On the labor market, woman is still not considered equal to man. According to public opinion, a woman has fewer job opportunities and fewer chances of promotion, and she is also considered to be less suitable for executive positions. Only in the typically feminine professions (nurses, hairdressers) has Gallup found that people prefer to deal with a woman. Although the attitude towards women working outside their home has been generally positive during recent years, different opinions are held when women have children, especially young children. This feeling is also reflected by the opinions of women themselves: in the United States, 76 percent regard being married with children as the ideal fulfillment of life; only 32 percent would like to combine this with a full-time job. Neglect of the children is mentioned by women in Great Britain as one of the disadvantages of working outside their home. Women are motivated mainly by financial conisiderations in getting jobs. However, arguments are also mentioned which suggest their wish to escape from the isolation of being a housewife. In this context, some of the reasons given for having a job were, I need an interest outside the home, the companionship during the day, and To keep busy. The opinions of respondents on working women are likely to vary with sex, age, and social environment. Unfortunately, breakdowns for age and social class were frequently not known in the polls reproduced here. Also, rather substantial differences often occur in the classifications of social environment as handled by the individual research institutes. For this reason, as well as for lack of space, these breakdowns have not been included. On the other hand, responses were frequently broken down by sex; where this breakdown was available it is reproduced here. In many cases the discrepancy between the answers of males and females is remarkably small.