Despite vast improvements in the position of women in society over the past half a century, we are still some way from achieving gender equality. Women who were around in the 1960s or 70s are surely struck by the significant improvements in the lives of women in the twenty-first century. However, they must also find familiar evidence of major inequalities.
Women in the West have made great headway in the fields of education and employment over the past 50 years. Women often out-achieve men educationally, and are entering occupations and professions that would once have been out of bounds. They often attain high positions within organisations and in some countries have even risen to the top of political power. Successful female entrepreneurs often appear in the media, perhaps leading some to conclude that women are now competing on a level playing field.
However, if we look more carefully we soon see that significant problems still exist. Women suffer inequalities in employment and have yet to achieve pay that is equal to that of men doing similar work. In addition, women are generally still responsible for child rearing and housework, creating a 'double burden' for those who work full time. Moreover, despite the success of some women in gaining positions of influence, these are the exception rather than the rule, and women are still outnumbered in positions of power. Finally, the dominant view of women in the media is not one of successful entrepreneur or public figure but of 's-x object', a situation that has barely changed over the past 50 years.
Consequently, despite some very real gains. I feel that women of the previous century must see much that they recognise when observing the position of women in society today.
Despite vast improvements in the
position
of
women
in society over the past half a century, we are
still
some
way from achieving gender equality.
Women
who were around in the 1960s or 70s are
surely
struck by the significant improvements in the
lives
of
women
in the twenty-
first
century.
However
, they
must
also
find familiar evidence of major inequalities.
Women in the West have made great headway in the fields of education and employment over the past 50 years.
Women
often
out-achieve
men
educationally
, and are entering occupations and professions that would once have been out of bounds. They
often
attain high
positions
within
organisations
and in
some
countries have even risen to the top of political power. Successful female entrepreneurs
often
appear in the media, perhaps leading
some
to conclude
that
women
are
now
competing on a level playing field.
However
, if we look more
carefully
we
soon
see
that significant problems
still
exist.
Women
suffer inequalities in employment and have
yet
to achieve pay
that is
equal to that of
men
doing similar work.
In addition
,
women
are
generally
still
responsible for child rearing and housework, creating a 'double burden' for those who work full time.
Moreover
, despite the success of
some
women
in gaining
positions
of influence, these are the exception
rather
than the
rule
, and
women
are
still
outnumbered in
positions
of power.
Finally
, the dominant view of
women
in the media is not one of successful entrepreneur or public figure
but
of 's-x object', a situation that has
barely
changed
over the past 50 years.
Consequently
, despite
some
very
real gains. I feel that
women
of the previous century
must
see
much that they
recognise
when observing the
position
of
women
in society
today
.