The Role Of Working Women, Then And Now | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Family Friends

The Role Of Working Women, Then And Now

Women are making strides. There's more to be made.

364
The Role Of Working Women, Then And Now

People work. It's how they make a living and means for life. Whether sitting at a desk, traveling all over the world, or standing behind a register, in life, it is inevitable. What is something else, that comes with time? A family. Often the role in American society, back between the early 1900s to about the middle and late 1900s, men usually were the ones that worked, women stayed home with the children and took care of the household. But why?

Can women work and men stay home with the kids and pets? Is it socially incorrect for men and women to switch roles? Women began to gain more jobs in the workplace and began to prove to the world what they can be capable of outside the house. The relationship between everyday work and a family unit, overtime has changed in adaptation of the ever-changing society in the Accord and Post-Accord era.

In the Post-Accord Era, the hot topics of birth control rights and gay marriage were "radical" changes to how a family would function. Or is it? After about 1969, gay marriage was beginning to become a more commonly spoken topic into the legalization of gay marriage in 2015. Even as a family, parents want what's better for their children, to help them improve along with the Post-Accord Era.

In the text,"The Corrosion of Character," by Richard Sennett, talks about two people named Enrico and his son Rico. The father, understood that his life and opinions prior to the Post-Accord era, "he hardly wanted his son Rico to repeat his own life". Later in the text, the author stated that the family dynamic is extremely important to a person's growth and that ideals can be learned from other family members.

The labor force of women has also been a crucial factor affecting the family unit. A prime example is the "Rosie the Riveter" archetype. She was a patriotic and happy-go-lucky person, who filled factory job openings when men went off to war in the time of World War II. When a majority of people talk of American women during World War II, the iconic "Rosie the Riveter" is what usually become the topic of conversation. Rosie was the modern factory girl.

She was able to close the gap of women having jobs and the integration with men in the workplace. During World War II, since many men were overseas, women could take up the war effort jobs that had been abandoned and in desperate need to be filled.

Postwar emphasis on women becoming integrated into the workforce, and changing the dynamic of the stereotypical gender roles. Although upon some soldiers returning home, women had been "kicked out" of those jobs, many found other jobs instead of leaving the workforce altogether. By 1945, 37% of women occupied the civilian labor force. In 1965, 33% of women occupied the workforce and by 1990, close to 43% of the employed labor force was women.

The imagery of "riveters" and poster of Rosie were used as propaganda during the war for women of all color and backgrounds. These women joined the labor force not only to improve their quality of life, but to also serve the country and to serve alongside the male counterparts. Those women who were looked at as "Riveters" had many qualifications in the workforce of the wartime industry. They were usually determined by race and geographical location.

Although women still experienced some sexism, many women who had jobs in the wartime era kept fighting for jobs in hopes people would realize how much it improved their lives and feelings of accomplishment as well as the Civil Rights Movement and the Women's Rights Movement.

In comparison to the Accord and Post-Accord era, stay at home moms becoming women in the workplace, the normalization of men staying at home became a staple of society and the modernization of the family unit, as well as the roles individuals play, continues to develop.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

190030
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14790
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457774
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26584
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments