Working women: Where have we been? Where are we going?

Abstract

A general view of the progress of women in the work force since the turn of the century places women firmly within full-time force participation in the present and future. Within a growing economy it is likely that women will move toward more equitable treatment. The periods described were the turn of the century the war years the 1960s 1970s and the 1990s and the future. The issues addressed were full or part-time work earnings families single mother families wives and children of working mothers. Women decades ago were primarily engaged in factory work or traditional occupations. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics considered these women "honest and virtuous." Working and living conditions were harsh and the pay was poor. Change took place slowly. It was not until women were needed to fill jobs left by men engaged in World War II that women found acceptance in the labor market. During the 1969s and the 1970s womens labor force involvement increased. Women were better educated and had smaller families. The feminist movement promoted womens role in the work force and the Civil Rights Movement emphasized the status of minority groups. The 1970s brought with it a decade of divorce and family stress. 1 out of every 2 marriages ended in divorce. Single-parent families increased in number. In 1988 55 million women were counted in the labor force (45% of the total working population of the US). In some industries such as health services women comprise over 50% of the work force. In 1988 13 million women were engaged in managerial and professional specialty occupations. Previously male-dominated occupations were filled by women. 4 out of 5 working women today are engaged full time. 3 million are multiple job holders which is a 5-fold increase over multiple job holders in 1970. The gap in earnings is slowly closing. Women 16-24 years have median earnings today that are more than 90% of the earnings of men of comparable age; median earnings in 1979 were only 77% of male earnings. Older women however still are concentrated in low-paying traditional occupations. Currently 3 out of 4 young married middle-class women work. Less than 5% of couples with families have a male head supporting a nonworking wife. 1 out of every 6 of the 66 million families is a single female head. 1 in every 3 lives below the poverty line. 6 out of 10 children have working mothers of which 20% live in poverty.