Introduction
Society constantly evolves and transforms, adopting new perspectives and changing its norms. In the same way, societal roles gradually change with time, with traditional male and female roles blurring their lines. However, while it may seem that the 21st century has reached the point when there is full equality, dogmas, societal expectations, and pressure are still put on both genders. In terms of female positions, there are still disparities in household duties and careers, with many women trying to change the conventional world order. Thus, women’s societal issues remain the same for centuries, starting from the suffragette movement in the 1920s, covering the post-World War 2 wage gap, and continuing with the glass ceiling, limiting women’s opportunities in male-dominated fields.
The Glass Ceiling and the Pay Gap
The first aspect to consider is today’s glass ceiling and pay gap. The expression glass ceiling first appeared in 1978, when female Hewlett-Packard employees addressed it, and a New York Telephone Company worker utilized it on stage during a panel debate about women’s ambitions (Bennet). Each of them employed it to explain how white-collar women cannot advance beyond the mid-manager position during their careers and the frequently undetectable obstacles standing in their way (Bennet).
However, the terms continued to be popular and were used in the following decades. When the term first appeared in an Adweek piece and later as a headline in The Wall Street Journal in the middle of the 1980s, it started to be noticed (Bennet). In 1986, The New York Times published a piece about the glass ceiling for female politicians, referencing Betty Friedan, co-founder of the National Organization for Women (Bennet). Among recent times when this term was applied was when it involved Hilary Clinton and her political career in Bennet’s article. Therefore, even nowadays, the term is used to discuss the issues faced by women since discrimination continues to persist.
Additionally, the issue of poor pay and the pay gap continues. In her piece, Finn Scott emphasizes the experience of factory girls who have to work in inhumane conditions with poor wages. As one of the girls says, “[the employer] always holds back a week’s wages to be sure that he can be able to collect for damages he says we do, and to keep us from leaving” (Finn Scott para.4). Nowadays, such a practice would be deemed illegal.
Yet, some issues are acute and have persisted for years. As was covered in the article by Harrison (23), women are allegedly being paid 59 cents or 72 cents on the dollar, as opposed to men. In 2018, a 2-cent pay gap was found (Greszler). Moreover, such inequality is seen in all spheres, including sports, where women are often underpaid (Ziv). Nevertheless, these statistics still illustrate that women are paid less than their male counterparts.
From Mothers to CEOs
To understand the gravity of the situation, it is vital to see the history of women’s fight for their rights. Initially, conservative society believed that “the paramount destiny and mission of woman are to fulfill the noble and benign offices of wife and mother” (Bradwell para.2). However, women made substantial progress in the twentieth century with the suffragette movement. Suffragettes and other women’s rights activists effectively campaigned for the ability to vote, which was granted in most nations by 1930 (McKeown). The following dramatic changes occurred after the Great Depression and World War 2.
Women willingly welcomed the growth of wartime after the hardships of the Great Depression. As males entered the military, jobs previously held by men became available to women. Millions of women were given access to government and non-military industry employment after “Rosie the Riveter” became the emblem for patriotic American women (Harrison 11). As was said in many posters during the war, by taking male roles, women were “rendering essential service to [their] common country in the hour of need (Office for Emergency Management 2). Women’s participation in the workforce increased from 25% before the conflict to 38% during that time (Harrison 11).
However, comparable to the Great Depression, the effects of World War 2 on women’s lives were uneven. Higher-paying jobs proved temporary when returning troops replaced women workers (Harrison 11). The job and academic advantages for soldiers after the war increased the gender gap between the two genders in these fields (Harrison 11). Although many women were forced to leave their jobs, significant changes were made to change the situation.
Transformative and essential changes occurred in the following decades, setting the foundation for equitable positions. In 1963, Congress passed the first employment discrimination statute, forbidding sex-based wage disparities in the private sector (Harrison 11). As both spouses worked and progressively shared family responsibilities by the 1970s, many marriages incorporated two occupations, speeding a trend that had already begun in the years following World War II (“Postwar Gender Roles and Women in American Politics”). Additionally, divorces increased, and working single mothers became more prevalent (“Postwar Gender Roles and Women in American Politics”). Therefore, these were the prerequisites for the further growth of female power.
Nowadays, after decades of gender stereotypes that a woman’s role is to be a mother and a wife, women demonstrate accomplishments as CEOs. The proportion of female executive vice presidents has more than doubled over the previous ten years, and that of female senior vice presidents has climbed by an astounding 75% (Harrison 24). These patterns suggest that when women receive more experience and are deemed qualified, they will fill the executive suites and boards of directors.
In 1997, there were 8 million female CEOs in America, and every fourth American worker was employed by a company founded by a woman (Harrison 24). These companies generated $1.4 trillion in revenue annually (Harrison 24). Rosin mentioned (para.13), “Of the 15 job categories projected to grow the most in the next decade in the U.S., all but two are occupied primarily by women.” Thus, equal opportunities show that both genders obtain similar possibilities and exercise the same rights.
The Importance of Issues to Women’s Overall Role in Society
As seen above, promoting women’s rights and gender equality is necessary. In her 1974 article, Estelle Freedman says, “The revolution [in manners and morals] was accelerated… by the growing independence of the American woman. She won the suffrage in 1920” (Freedman 372). A century later, much has changed, yet it was achieved through constant pressure, movements, and demands from women. Therefore, the present issues women face show how much society has transformed and to what extent the necessity to change gender roles in society is required. It can be changed by simply shifting the emphasis and turning toward instead of away from women, such as Emma Goldman, who advocated for equality for all, women’s rights, and reform in the workplace, and Ada Lovelace, who created the first computer program (Sarkeesian and Hudson para.6).
Despite what society’s narratives would have people believe, it has always been possible for women to be “leaders, heroes and rebels” (Sarkeesian and Hudson para.6). As a result, the importance of modern issues lies within drawing the parallel between the past and present and allowing equality of rights and opportunities.
Many art pieces were dedicated to the fight of women against societal expectations and discrimination. Like such promotional and encouraging works, Elmer A. Bushell introduced his cartoon, “The Sky is Now Her Limit,” to show the aspirations of all women. The illustration depicts a woman carrying buckets while leaning on a yoke and glancing at a ladder that rises to the sky, with the bottom steps marked “Slavery,” “House Drudgery,” and “Shop Work” (Bushnell). Meanwhile, steps at the top are seen with the labels “Equal Suffrage,” “Wage Equity,” and “Presidency” (Bushnell). This way, the artist desired to show the changing norms and shifting social constructs.
Conclusion
Hence, women’s difficulties have persisted throughout history, from the suffragette movement in the 1920s to the wage gap following World War II to the glass ceiling, restricting women’s chances in industries with a preponderance of males. Through the suffragette movement, women made significant advances in the 20th century. Following the Second World War and the Great Depression, more important developments took place.
However, the problems with the glass ceiling and the pay gap are still prevalent. Compared to men, women are purportedly paid 59 cents or 72 cents on the dollar. Therefore, it is essential to promote gender equality and women’s rights. Women currently hold senior positions in more significant numbers, and this trend needs to be supported to create more equal possibilities.
Works Cited
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Greszler, Rachel. Why the Pay Gap Between Women’s and Men’s Soccer? My Heritage Foundation, 2019. Web.
Finn Scott, Miriam. “The Factory Girl’s Danger.” The Outlook, 1911, p. 817. Web.
Freedman, Estelle B. “The New Woman: Changing Views of Women in the 1920s.” The Journal of American History, vol. 61, no. 2, 1974, pp.372-393. Web.
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Office for Emergency Management. War Manpower Job Flyer Promoting Women to Register for War Jobs. National Archives Catalog, 1942. Web.
Postwar Gender Roles and Women in American Politics. United States House of Representatives, n.d. Web.
Rosin, Hanna. The End of Men. The Atlantic, 2010. Web.
Sarkeesian, Anita and Hudson, Laura. We Must Rewrite Women’s Role in History. Time, 2016. Web.
Ziv, Shahar. 3 Ways The Gender Pay Gap Is Even Bigger Than You Think. Forbes, 2019. Web.