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How has the role of women changed over the last 50 years?

Women's representation in Congress and participation in the workforce has grown, but disparities still exist at home and elsewhere.

Updated on Thu, August 17, 2023 by the USAFacts Team

Societal structures change from generation to generation, leading to changes in the roles women play in politics and the workforce, and childrearing. But how has women's participation in different sectors of American society changed over the last 50 years?

Are more women serving in Congress?

In the past four decades, women’s representation in Congress has increased substantially. Women now make up a quarter of members of Congress, which is more than double the number who served in the 106th Congress of 1999 to 2001.

Women held 150 seats in the 117th Congress, which spanned January 3, 2021, to January 3, 2023, making up about 25% of Congress. Even though women’s participation in Congress is up 56% from a decade prior, to reach representation proportional with the population, that number would need to double.

Read more about women’s participation in Congress.

Has women’s participation in the workforce increased?

Women’s labor force participation rate grew from 34% in 1950 to 60% in 2000, and is expected to 0.7% per year through 2050. This figure, however, varies among different demographic groups.

Despite Congress passing the Equal Pay Act in 1963, a wage gap remains. In 2020, women earned 82 cents for every dollar earned by men, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics . Even with educational advancements and entry into higher-paying fields, women tend to be more represented in lower-paying sectors.

For instance, 77% of public elementary and secondary school teachers were women in the 2020–2021 school year.

Even though 95% of elementary, middle and high school teachers have a bachelor’s degree or higher, their pay was lower than that of their similarly educated peers. Average earnings were $53,800 for elementary and middle school teachers, and $57,840 for high school teachers. To compare, biological scientists earn $69,880, urban and regional planners earn $79,790, and statisticians earn $96,320.

Read about women’s income and teacher salary .

How do women balance work and childcare?

Data indicates that mothers are four times more likely than fathers to miss work due to childcare , a trend that has continued even as women’s increasing participation in the workforce. Issues such as paid parental leave complicate this picture. Although the Family and Medical Leave Act mandates a 12-week parental leave for many employees, it does not require that this leave be paid. Recent data shows that 89% of workers had access only to unpaid family and medical leave .

Read more about how men and women use time differently .

Women’s roles in the United States— in political arenas, the workforce, and at home—have experienced significant shifts over the decades. As women’s representation in Congress has grown, so has their participation in the labor force. But, while some disparities shrink, others persist. Understanding the data behind these trends can add context to gender roles and inform debate and policy on future equity initiatives.

There’s a lot more where this came from: learn more in this interview between USAFacts’ Sasha Anderson and News Not Noise’s Jessica Yellin. Then see the differences in how men and women spend their time differently, and get the latest data by signing up for our newsletter .

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Feminism: Changing the Way Our Society Views Women

Feminism is about changing the way the world perceives the strength of a woman..

Posted May 1, 2018 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

"Teach your daughters to worry less about fitting into glass slippers and more about shattering glass ceilings."—Unknown

I recently returned from a trip to Peru and during my four-week stay, I was fortunate enough to spend time in the local village of Pucamarca which is located in the district of Chinchero outside of Cusco. I spent the morning with a group of Quecha women who made offerings to the land before they began their morning's work which consisted of weaving beautiful textiles by hand.

I inquired about their textile business, their culture, and their life in the village. My mind began to think about all of the strong women I have met all over the world who are disempowered because society does not see them as "strong" as men.

Take, for example, the women in Tanzania, who are undervalued and are forced to stay home to take care of the family, endure female mutilation, and marry into polygamist tribes solely to avoid prostitution. Or the women who are outcast because they are not able to bear children.

While living in Tanzania for a year, I watched the women and girls in my home collect water from the stream every day, go to school, wash the laundry by hand, go to the market, spend hours cooking meals and hold a job. These were some of the strongest women I have ever met, yet they were weak in the eyes of Tanzanian society because they lacked a Y chromosome — and for this, women are not given equal chances as men.

While primary school enrollment among girls and boys is nearly equivalent in Tanzania, less than 20 percent of women age 20-24 have completed secondary school and 20 percent have had no education at all.

The same holds true for other developing countries around the world such as India and Cambodia. While working in India, I witnessed the housegirl undergo reconstructive surgery because she was lit on fire by her husband for disobeying his orders. In the United States, women can make their own choices however we are still fighting for our role in society. Fighting for equal pay and fighting against sexual harassment are just two common battles we are fighting every day in the United States.

Women are expected to give birth, cook, clean, take care of the children, and earn a living. In fact, there are about 85 million mothers in America, according to a recent U.S. Census Bureau estimate and about 71 percent of these women are working mothers.

Although the glass ceiling is being raised compared to recent years, it still exists. Today, on average, a woman earns 80.5 cents for every dollar a man earns , and women's median annual earnings are $10,086 less than men's, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Regardless of these statistics, we still go to work, take care of our families, clean our homes and continue to fight for equality because we are strong.

How we can close the gender gap

Women have been strong since the point of inception; but only recently has society started to understand their true strength. Society's views are finally changing, little by little.

Yet so many of us are disempowered. We can teach our daughters to be strong and to say "no." We can travel the world and teach women empowerment courses and the importance of staying in school. We can stand at the White House and protest against the gender wage gap and we can stand up for other women who need our help. We can fight against mental health stigma and teach about birth control and safe sex practices. We can learn self-defense and learn how to shoot a gun. We can vote only for those politicians who support women's rights. We can fight harder to enforce tougher rape chargers. We can cook barefoot in the kitchen and earn a six-figure salary. We can fight in the military, climb mountains, run marathons, give birth, and run for president.

We can continue to do all of these things because we are strong and we never give up. However, we have always been strong and we have always been able to be successful, it is our society that has hindered us and is still hindering us.

The only way we can overcome the gender gap in both developing and developed countries is for our societies to start teaching men, from a young age, how valuable and how strong women are.

Men need to overcome their ignorance and chauvinistic ways, but men are not the only culprits. Women are also guilty of allowing this. So many young girls believe beauty is in the man's eyes and that we must marry and have children to be successful in society. So many women use their bodies to be accepted and will go to extreme lengths to obtain this beauty. Women need to stop allowing other women to act like this. We also need to stop competing with each other and start lifting each other up.

"Feminism isn't about making women strong. Women are already strong. It's about changing the way the world perceives that strength." —G.D. Anderson

Kristen Fuller, M.D., is a physician and a clinical mental health writer for Center For Discovery.

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Women rising: Women’s activism that has shaped the world as you know it

Date: Wednesday, 6 March 2019

This story was originally published on Medium.com/@UN_Women

Women have always risen. Women are rising today. Women will always rise.

From the women who came together in Seneca Falls for the United States first women’s conference, to the Mirabal sisters who protested dictatorship in the Dominican Republic and everyone who has shared their #MeToo story on social media, the women who’ve risen up to claim their rights and to protect the rights of others, have changed the world as we know.

On International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating women activists around the world who have insisted on a better world and persisted in the face of adversity.

Keep reading to learn how International Women’s Day started, and about women rising, then and now.

The beginning: Women’s suffrage, labour rights and revolution

Since the earliest days of its history, International Women’s Day has been a day for women to unite for a common cause, even when women were protesting World War I.

The first International Women’s Day in 1911 saw more than one million people across Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland mobilizing for women’s suffrage and labour rights.

 In 1917, a large women-led demonstration demanded “bread and peace!” in Russia, and four days later, the Czar abdicated. Now a Russian national holiday, the Day is what some historians credit with Russian Revolution.

Demanding women’s right to vote in the United States, 1920

The 19 th Amendment granted women in the United States the right to vote in 1920, more than 30 years after New Zealand became the first country to do so.

The women’s suffrage movement in the US started in 1848 at the country’s first women’s rights convention. After being barred from speaking at an anti-slavery convention, Americans Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott brought together hundreds of people in Seneca Falls, New York. There, they demanded civil, political and religious rights for women, and kicked-off the women’s suffrage movement in the United States.

Driving political change in the Dominican Republic, 1960

Minerva. Maria. Patria. “Las Mariposas” became symbols of feminist resistance when they protested dictatorship. Discover our timeline of women’s rights movements: https://t.co/0wJbWm2zpc #TimeIsNow pic.twitter.com/KlVQIUe9NQ — UN Women (@UN_Women) December 23, 2018

Patria, Minerva and Maria Teresa Mirabal were outspoken political activists and leaders of the resistance against the Trujillo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic. Despite Trujillo’s persecution, the sisters continued advocating for change and respect and human rights for all. In November 1960, Trujillo declared that his two problems were the church and the Mirabal sisters.

On 25 November 1960, the sisters were assassinated. Their death shocked and enraged the nation, leading continued public outcry. Their assassination is considered one of the events that helped accelerate Dominican Republic’s independence movement, and within a year, Trujillo’s dictatorship came to an end.

To honor the Mirabal sisters, 25 November was named International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women.

And Now…

Protecting indigenous lands in Kenya

In Kenya, women of the Rendille community in Marsabit County, banded together to protect their lands when investors came in and claimed it as their own.

“It really brought our community together, to work towards a solution,” says Alice Lesepen , a member of the community. “We started having community meetings, especially the women, to come together with one voice and claim back our land. We really want to be part of the development project. Can we be informed? Can it be done with our consent?”

The Rendille people, with women’s voices at the center, took the developer to court in the hopes of protecting their communal lands.

The case is still pending.

Ending child marriage in India

Across five rural Indian states, Women’s Peer Groups are working to end child marriage in their communities. In community meetings, these leaders are asking participants to pledge that they won’t have their daughters married underage—or attend such weddings. After the pledging ceremony, they lead rallies in their villages to spread awareness about the negative impacts of child marriage.

 “ If all people start boycotting such weddings, it would definitely help eliminate child marriage,” says Malti Tudu, a 20-year-old activist from Simalbari village . “People are needed during a marriage ceremony—a priest to perform the religious rites, musical band to play the music, cook to prepare the food for the guests, and guests to give their blessings to the newlyweds.”

Malti also leads interventions when they hear about a planned child marriage, gathering as many community members as possible and going to the home to advocate for the girls’ education and rights.

Advocating for Syria’s future

The Syrian Women’s Advisory Board, established by the UN Special Envoy for Syria, works ensure that women’s perspectives and leadership is taken into account in the peace process. Composed of 12 independent women from Syrian civil society with diverse backgrounds, the Board works to show that Syrian women are not just victims, they are also leaders and need to be a part of the peace process.

“Women are leading efforts to push forward, but also asking for more stability,” says Rajaa Altalli , a member of the Board and co-founder of the Center for Civil Society and Democracy, which works to strengthen community engagement and advocacy for peace in Syria. “They are pushing for political transition towards democracy in Syria, which is very promising, but they are risking their lives to tell the truth.”

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World History Project - 1750 to the Present

Course: world history project - 1750 to the present   >   unit 4.

• READ: A World Tour of Women’s Suffrage

READ: Changing Gender Roles

First read: preview and skimming for gist, second read: key ideas and understanding content.

• What were “Victorian” ideals of gender roles, according to the article? How did they spread around the world?
• This period saw the rise of the “new women” in Europe and America. Who were “new women”?
• What kinds of impacts did European imperialism have on women in Asia in this period, according to the author?
• How did women in Nigeria attempt to use their traditional roles as mothers to protest British taxes and colonialism?
• How did the rise of Marxism (socialism) create potential for change in gender roles?
• According to the author, did nationalism create new opportunities for gender equality, or not? Explain your answer.

Third read: evaluating and corroborating

• This article begins with the spread of European-inspired “Victorian” gender roles. How were these ideas expressed in new nation-states being created around the world? What does this tell us about empire as a community?
• This article also looks at the spread of ideas like nationalism and socialism as forces that could challenge Victorian gender roles, but only to a certain degree. What does this tell us about the role of networks in spreading new ideas about gender, and their limitations?

Changing Gender Roles

Introduction, changing gender roles in asia, nationalism, socialism, and resistance.

"The women stole the hats [of the British men ], then they rubbed their naked bottoms over the faces and bodies of the chiefs and their court officers, who had dispatched the census takers. The demonstrators moved on to the towns and attacked British merchants whom they held responsible for the declining price of palm products and the high costs of imported goods. When the Yoruba troops, members of an alien ethnic group, were ordered to attack the women, the women turned their backs and mooned 2 ‍   the soldiers—challenging them to 'shoot your mothers.' The soldiers shot down 18 women in a massacre that alerted the British to anti-imperialist sentiments, which would increasingly intensify" (Kaplan 178).

• “Gender” and “the sexes” are not the same thing. The World Health Organization defines gender as something that “refers to the socially constructed characteristics of women and men—such as norms, roles and relationships of and between groups of women and men.” In contrast to this is the traditional biological definition of the sexes as male and female.
• When you “moon” someone, you show them your bare bottom. Aren’t you glad you read footnotes now?

Want to join the conversation?

This is how women’s rights have progressed

2018 marked the 100 year anniversary of women getting the vote in the United Kingdom. Image:  REUTERS/Hannah McKay

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Stay up to date:, education, gender and work.

• 109 years after the first International Women’s Day there is still much to be done.
• A UN report has found more than 80% of both men and women hold gender-biased views against women.

This year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) will be held on 8 March with a global programme of events to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and to inspire action that will help accelerate gender parity.

Have you read?

The theme of international women’s day 2020, explained, more women in leadership shouldn't matter – but it really does.

The 2020 event is built around the theme #EachforEqual , focusing on the efforts being made worldwide to close the equality gap, to fight bias and to counteract stereotypes.

Since IWD began in 1911, great strides have been made in empowering women and in offering them the same opportunities as men.

Women have become world leaders – with former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike the first to mark that milestone – and taken leading roles in major companies, including Carly Fiorina at computer giant Hewlett-Packard.

And women have won prestigious awards in the sciences and arts. For instance, physicist Marie Curie won her second Nobel peace prize the year IWD was launched, whilie Kathryn Bigelow became the only female to win the Best Director Oscar almost a century later.

Taking a stand

Change has been a long time coming , as this timeline shows:

• 1893 – New Zealand becomes the first nation to enshrine full female suffrage, though women are not allowed to stand for election until 1919.
• 1897 – The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies is formed in the UK, later to be led by Millicent Fawcett.
• 1894 – The UK permits single women to vote in local elections, a key stage in the eventual granting of equal suffrage rights in 1928.
• 1920 – The US amends its constitution to allow women to vote across the country, after Utah set the ball rolling in 1896 for individual states to enact their own laws.
• 1986 – Switzerland permits women to vote in nationwide polls.
• 2015 – Saudi Arabian women vote for the first time, in local elections.

And yet still much more needs to be done, as this year’s edition of the World Economic Forum Global Global Gender Gap Report highlights.

The headline statistic illustrates the uphill struggle women face: despite improvements made since the survey’s inception 14 years ago, it will still take almost a century before women can expect to achieve equality with men.

That means almost no woman alive today will experience gender parity.

Political power

The figure is an average taken from four measurements of attainment – Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment.

In educational attainment, for instance, parity will be reached within 12 years if rates of improvement seen since 2014 continue. At the other end of the scale, equality in political representation will take 257 years.

The World Economic Forum has been measuring gender gaps since 2006 in the annual Global Gender Gap Report .

The Global Gender Gap Report tracks progress towards closing gender gaps on a national level. To turn these insights into concrete action and national progress, we have developed the Gender Parity Accelerator model for public private collaboration.

These accelerators have been convened in twelve countries across three regions. Accelerators are established in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico and Panama in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank in Latin America and the Caribbean, Egypt and Jordan in the Middle East and North Africa, and Japan and Kazakhstan in Asia.

All Country Accelerators, along with Knowledge Partner countries demonstrating global leadership in closing gender gaps, are part of a wider ecosystem, the Global Learning Network, that facilitates exchange of insights and experiences through the Forum’s platform.

In these countries CEOs and ministers are working together in a three-year time frame on policies that help to further close the economic gender gaps in their countries. This includes extended parental leave, subsidized childcare and making recruitment, retention and promotion practices more gender inclusive.

If you are a business in one of the Gender Parity Accelerator countries you can join the local membership base.

If you are a business or government in a country where we currently do not have a Gender Parity Accelerator you can reach out to us to explore opportunities for setting one up.

“Overall, the quest towards gender parity has improved, ducking back under a century and registering a marked improvement on the 108 years in the 2018 index,” says the report.

“Greater political representation for women has contributed to this, but overall the political arena remains the worst-performing dimension.”

Widespread bias

Gender bias against women is still widespread - on both sides of the gender divide.

To mark the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, a landmark event that established guidelines for creating equal societies, the United Nations has published a Tackling Social Norms report.

It found 91% of men and 86% of women show at least one clear bias against gender equality in areas such as politics, economic, education, intimate partner violence and women’s reproductive rights.

About 50% of men and women interviewed across 75 countries say they think men make better political leaders than women, while more than 40% felt that men made better business executives.

And perhaps more concerning, the gender bias against women has actually increased in the last decade.

As the Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, says: "We don't have an equal world at the moment and we are radically impatient for that change to come."

"We are radically impatient, we are not giving up"

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License and Republishing

World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

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Essay on Role of Women in Society

Students are often asked to write an essay on Role of Women in Society in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

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100 Words Essay on Role of Women in Society

Introduction.

Women play a vital role in society. They are not only homemakers but also contributors to economic, social, and political development.

Economic Role

Women contribute to the economy, both in paid and unpaid work. They manage households and also participate in workforce, boosting the country’s economic growth.

Social Role

Women are the backbone of society. They shape and nurture the future generations, and play a pivotal role in societal harmony.

Political Role

Women in politics ensure representation of diverse perspectives. They help in making balanced and inclusive decisions.

In conclusion, women are integral to the progression of society. Their roles are diverse and crucial.

250 Words Essay on Role of Women in Society

The role of women in society has been shifting significantly over the centuries, from a traditional focus on nurturing roles to a modern emphasis on participation in all spheres of life. This transformation has been driven by socio-economic changes, advancements in education, and the relentless fight for gender equality.

Economic Contributions

In the economic sphere, women have transcended the boundaries of domesticity to become key contributors. They are now CEOs, entrepreneurs, and professionals, driving economic growth and innovation. Their economic independence has shifted societal perceptions, emphasizing their capabilities beyond traditional roles.

Social and Political Influence

Socially, women have become vocal advocates for societal issues, championing causes such as environmental conservation, education, and health. Their empathetic and holistic approach to problem-solving has led to significant societal advancements. Politically, women’s representation has increased, influencing policy-making and contributing to a more balanced perspective in governance.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite these strides, challenges persist. Gender disparities in pay and representation, societal expectations, and gender-based violence are issues that women continue to grapple with. However, the future holds promise. As society continues to evolve, the role of women is expected to expand further, with increased opportunities for leadership and influence.

In conclusion, the role of women in society has evolved from traditional nurturing roles to active participation in economic, social, and political spheres. While challenges persist, the future holds promise for further expansion of women’s roles, contributing to a more balanced and equitable society.

500 Words Essay on Role of Women in Society

The role of women in society has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past few centuries. From being confined to their homes to emerging as key players in every sphere of life, women have broken the shackles of patriarchy and made their presence felt.

Historical Perspective

Historically, women were considered inferior to men and their primary roles were confined to childbearing and managing household chores. However, with the advent of industrialization and modernization, women began to step out of their homes to contribute to the family income. This shift was the first step towards the recognition of women as significant contributors to society.

In the current era, women have emerged as an essential part of the global economy. From being entrepreneurs and CEOs of multinational companies to working in various sectors such as technology, healthcare, and education, women have proven their mettle. They are not only contributing to the economy but are also driving growth and innovation.

Societal norms and values have also evolved to accommodate the changing role of women. They are now seen as equals, deserving of the same rights and opportunities as men. Women have become influential figures in politics, academia, and social activism, advocating for gender equality, human rights, and social justice.

Women’s participation in politics has increased significantly over the years. They are now occupying key positions in governments and international organizations. Their perspectives and leadership styles often bring a different approach to governance, emphasizing cooperation, inclusivity, and social welfare.

Challenges and the Way Forward

Despite these advancements, women still face numerous challenges such as gender-based violence, wage discrimination, and underrepresentation in leadership positions. Addressing these issues requires collective action and systemic changes. Education plays a pivotal role in this, as it not only empowers women but also fosters a society that values gender equality.

In conclusion, the role of women in society is multi-faceted and crucial. Their contributions span across economic, social, and political domains. While significant strides have been made in recognizing and valuing these contributions, there is still a long way to go. The road to gender equality is a continuous journey that requires the active participation of all members of society.

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Gender Treatment: Changing Role of Women in Modern Society Essay

In the last 50 years, the role and social functions of women have dramatically been changed due to extreme desire of women to fight for their rights and freedoms. The emergence of feminist movements allows male society to reconsider their attitudes to the roles of women. Specifically, the conventional views on women as mothers, wives, and friends have been blurred with the emergence of emancipated movement leading to the professional equality of women.

More and more females occupy leading positions at the top of managerial ladder by brining in confidence in other women. Significant advances have been achieved by women in educational, industrial, and social sphere. Despite the valuable contribution that women made to the development of society, the role reversal between US men and women is demonstrated most explicitly and painfully in the working class, having significant cultural and political consequences for the development of the American society.

So far, it was hard to imagine that women can occupy the leading positions in industrial, scientific, educational, and political spheres, since men were traditionally believed to be the most suitable for these professional areas. Nowadays, these stereotypes have been blurred and, as a result, a plethora of advances has been introduced to various social and cultural spheres.

In particular, because male prevailing society prevented them from learning, “knowledge…make[s] them question the binding power of the conventions and believes which…would show them how to achieve their freedom” (Barnes, 2009, p. 22). Education, therefore, was the only path to achieve privileges that men had. Moreover, women’s desire to gain advantage over men led to the achievement of the economic independence, as well as advances made in industrial spheres.

The criticism of gender differences has touched on the changes in top corporate positions that were previously taken by men. Thus, the shift of power from men to women has allowed the latter to possess greater control of middle management positions. The statistics shows that “women now hold 51.4 percent of managerial and processional jobs – up from 26.1 percent in 1980” (Rosin, 2010, n. p.).

Because of ongoing suppressions, women activated their aspirations to go through the barriers and acquire professional credentials to prove their knowledge is a valuable asset to the development of society. Thus, women have managed heighten the corporate performance and, therefore, each firm thinking beyond stereotypes ad interested in profits succeeded significantly in recruiting high-potential and skillful women.

Role reversal of American men and women have significantly affected cultural and political atmosphere in the United States. Clair (2011) emphasizes, “given the trends of pushing economy and society, this domination seems like a last gasp of a dying age” (p. 147).

Though male professionals hold about 15 job categories, women have captured the rest, including nursing, teaching, manufacturing, etc. Therefore, the role reversal has made women dominate and become even more independent and confident. As a result, women have become less reliant on men and, as result, the latter are now less independent and resolute.

In conclusion, the advances in various facets of societal development have posited women to higher professional positions. Advances made in education, industry, and leadership has significantly feminized the modern culture. Men become more development on women’s culture and companies encourage gifted and promising women to apply for their positions.

Barnes, E. (2009). Woman in Modern Society . US: Echo Library.

Clair, M. (2011). So Much, So Fast, So Little Time: Coming to Terms with Rapid Change and its Consequences . US: ABC-CLIO.

Rosin, H. (2010). The End of Men . The Atlantic. Web.

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The Role of Women in Society

In the 21st century, women have undoubtedly achieved many advances regarding their role in society, at least in western countries. However, even there they may still experience difficulties. Women may believe that they have to behave like men to succeed, and avoid the responsibilities of having children in order to have a flourishing career. They have all the legal rights of men, and in theory have equal access to employment opportunities – yet in practice this may be hard to enforce.

In some ways, the role of women is still a traditional one. Many countries are still highly patriarchal, expecting women to play a submissive and supportive role, and perhaps even denying them equal legal rights to men. Even in progressive western countries, women often still bear the burden of responsibility for childcare, care of elderly relatives, and domestic tasks. Although the outlook is changing, certain professions are still seen as either male or female, and women experience difficulties entering traditionally male occupations such as science or engineering.

Changes are slow to occur, but they are happening. In the 2017 parliamentary elections in the UK, almost a third of MPs elected were women, the highest number to date. In the US, women hold only around 20% of seats in the Senate, Congress, and House of Representatives. It is important for these numbers to increase, so that women are fairly represented at the highest levels. Women can be equally capable as men, and if they enter more positions of power then not only will they be able to work to improve the situation of other women, but it will send a message that they should be regarded as equals. This creates a ‘trickle-down’ effect throughout society; if we see women in roles of importance, then other women (and men) begin to understand that females are not only deserving of equal opportunities, but that they are every bit as capable as their male counterparts.

Since we still have issues regarding equal opportunities in more liberal western societies in 2017, it can only be assumed that changes in more patriarchal societies will be much slower to occur. Yet again, there we see signs that changes may occur over time. Many countries have grass roots organisations working to improve the situation for women and girls, ensuring that they have equal access to education and to protect their rights. Even in the most patriarchal society of all, Saudi Arabia, there have recently been small improvements in the ‘guardian system’, which requires women to have the permission of a male relative to access many services such as healthcare, education and obtaining a passport. A member of the Saudi royal family has even stated that he believes one day women will be permitted to drive, and that they will indeed play a greater role in society. This is acknowledging the great potential that women have, and the contribution that they can bring to the country and its economy – something that is as yet untapped.

In conclusion, we must observe that the responsibility for changing the role of women to a more equal one is in many ways the responsibility of men. Returning to the example of Saudi Arabia, changes will only occur if men in power and in society agree to it. This is true to some extent everywhere. But women must keep up the pressure worldwide to demand their rights, and demonstrate that they are every bit as capable as men. It is perhaps unfortunate that they must prove themselves, but it is a good way of showing that they are deserving.

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Social Changes in Women’s Roles, Families, and Generational Ties

Emily M. Agree, Ph.D., is professor of Sociology at Johns Hopkins University and associate director of the Hopkins Population Center in Baltimore, Maryland.

There has been much speculation around the aging of the Baby Boom Generation because they were at the forefront of turbulent social changes in women’s roles, marriage, and childbearing. This article addresses the ways in which population aging is intertwined with family change, and how intergenerational relations in later life are being transformed by social and demographic changes. Increasing diversity of family types and potentially weaker family ties raise the possibility of challenges to come in the next century.

Introduction

One of the most anticipated demographic transformations in our society has been the aging of the population, and in particular, the aging of the baby boomers, the first of whom turned age 65 in 2011. One reason this cohort has been the subject of fascination is because they have lived through some of the most turbulent social changes around women’s roles, marriage, and childbearing. Because population aging has been a gradual process foreseen for many years, policies have adapted to the changing demographic situation, but families also face the implications of decades of changes in family norms and behavior.

Demographic Change and Family Structure

The aging of the population has led to many myths about the way in which intergenerational relations will change in response to the increasing older population. Some fears about population aging stem from a lack of understanding of how demographic changes that lead to population age-structure changes are intrinsically intertwined with the nature of families and the changes in families that have been seen over recent decades. The same declines in fertility and mortality that change the age and sex structure of a population also change the size and generational structure of families. In turn, these family changes affect individual demographic behavior.

Most people assume that we have an aging population because of improvements in longevity. Actually, our population gets older both because people are living longer and also because fewer children are born. It is well-documented that survival at older ages has increased dramatically over the past several decades, such that men who reach age 65 in the United States can now expect to live another eighteen years on average (to age 83) and 65-year-old women can expect to live almost to age 86. Those who survive to age 80 can expect to live even longer; men to about age 88 and women to age 90 ( Kochanek et al., 2016 ).

These improvements in old age mortality mean that as we enter later life we are more likely to have living parents, siblings, and partners or spouses. One study found that more than 62 percent of American women in the baby boom cohort had at least one living parent when they were age 45 to 64, up from 47 percent in 1988 ( Wiemers and Bianchi, 2015 ).

While it is true that gains in life expectancy for men and women have increased the size of the older population, another important change is that families have become smaller. Fertility can be a more powerful factor than mortality in driving population aging, and historical fertility has long-term consequences. Changes in ideas about ideal family size and the ability to decide when to have children has resulted in families with fewer children and more people living into old age without any children. Fertility declines mean there are fewer young people in the population at the same time as the number of elders is growing.

The legacy of fertility changes also can be seen in the trajectory of the baby boom cohort as it moves through the age structure. The baby boom resulted from a sharp increase of births after World War II, when soldiers returned and women who had delayed starting a family, or having more children, began to give birth ( Hughes and O’Rand, 2004 ). This increase in births came at a time when traditional norms encouraging marriage and children were bolstered by postwar economic growth, leading to early marriage and large families. These trends lasted into the early 1960s, tapering off around 1964.

Both of these demographic trends affect the later-life families seen today. Longer life spans extended the years spent in family relationships and this, combined with the large families in which baby boomers grew up, results in today’s older population having more spouses and siblings who are still alive. As well, many baby boomers are living to see their grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow up. At the same time, due to the prevalence of smaller nuclear families in younger generations, each succeeding generation is smaller than the one preceding it.

Later childbearing and longer survival periods also increase potential for the existence of “sandwich” generations, which are burdened by dual-caregiving. The prevalence of sandwich generations varies by how caregiving is defined. In general, this has been viewed as a relatively uncommon phenomenon, because most children are independent adults by the time older parents need care, and no more than 10 percent of women are estimated to be engaged in childcare and parent care at the same time ( Agree, Bissett, and Rendall, 2003 ). However, studies that define support more broadly have estimated higher levels of burden. Grundy and Henretta (2006) showed that about 30 percent of mid-life women in the United States and Great Britain provided support to an older parent and one or more children, and a subsequent analysis showed that about 30 percent of men and women provide some kind of simultaneous support to parents and children (Friedman et al., 2016).

The risk of middle-age cohorts experiencing this sandwiched obligation is potentially increasing due to rising levels of female education and later marriage and childbearing, both of which increase the risk of having a child at home while caring for an older relative ( Agree, Bissett, and Rendall, 2003 ). By the beginning of this century, the most common family structure for men and women ages 50 to 69 was families with four living generations (parents, children, and grandchildren), varying from 25 percent to 40 percent ( Margolis and Wright, 2016 ).

Historical Trends in Family Structural Change

Starting in the 1960s, revolutions in norms about gender roles, individualism, and sexuality fostered a rise in divorce, remarriage, cohabitation, and multiple-partner fertility ( Cherlin, 2010 ). These changes have in turn led to a proliferation of family ties that are more diffuse and possibly weaker or more ambiguous. In the latter part of the twentieth century, women’s labor force participation and educational attainment rose, and it remains high to this day. Even though many women still take some time off from work for childrearing, it is more likely to be measured in months than in years.

Marriage and childbirth

Concurrently, women are marrying and beginning to form families at later ages, and childbearing is increasingly taking place outside of traditional marriage. Across cohorts, the proportion of women married by age 25 was highest among those born during the Great Depression in the early part of the twentieth century (84 percent) and dropped to about 50 percent of those born in 1956 or later. This trend has continued, with only 47.3% of women who were born between 1975 and 1979 marrying by their 25th birthday ( Kreider and Ellis 2011 ). The US Census Bureau estimates that the median age at marriage for women has risen from a low of 20 years in the 1950’s to 27 years in 2016 ( US Bureau of the Census 2016 .)

Similarly, while 23 percent of older women born during the Great Depression had a first child during their teenage years, this declined to 18 percent among those born in 1956 or later ( Agree and Hughes, 2012 ). Younger generations are even less likely in their teenage years to bear children. Teen birth rates are at historic lows: in 2015, only 2.3 percent of teenage women gave birth in the United States ( Martin et al., 2017 ). Higher education is associated with the lowest probabilities of teenage childbirth. As of 2010, more than half of women with less than a high school education had a first birth as a teen, while among women who completed college, less than 5 percent had their first birth as a teen ( Martinez, Daniels, and Chandra, 2012 ).

Patterns of divorce

As women were marrying and having children later, divorce also began to be easier for women to initiate and thus more common. Divorce rates began to rise in the 1960s and reached a peak around 1980, when almost half of new marriages were expected to end in divorce ( Cherlin, 2010 ). The baby boomers were most profoundly affected by the so-called divorce “revolution” since they came of age when divorce was more acceptable, but older generations also were getting divorced at higher rates. Almost a one-quarter (24 percent) of women born during the Great Depression era divorced at least once, but they were more likely to have gotten divorced at a later age (after about age 35) when “no-fault” divorce legislation made it easier to leave unhappy marriages. About 37 percent of baby boomers, have been divorced at least once, but they were more likely to have been divorced at a younger age than earlier generations ( Agree and Hughes, 2012 ). Earlier timing of divorce allowed the baby boomers additional years in which to remarry-- and they have. As of 2012, about 28.3 percent of baby boomer women had married more than once ( Lewis and Kreider, 2015 ).

Effects of education and work on marriage and childbirth

In the latter part of the twentieth century, women’s educational attainment and labor-force participation rose, and they remain high to this day. Even though many women still take some time off from work for childrearing, it is more likely to be measured in months than in years.

Longer educational careers and higher labor-force participation have been associated with women’s lessening dependence on their husbands’ economic earning power. These factors comprise the first half of the gender revolution, and have had profound effects on family life, such as increases in divorce, later family formation, and lower fertility ( Hofferth and Goldscheider, 2016 ). Interestingly, there is some evidence that postponing marriage is associated with a lower probability of divorce ( Rotz, 2016 ).. Goldscheider and colleagues also recently showed that although changes in women’s roles created turbulence in marital relationships and family stability, both men and women place importance on keeping family ties and relationships strong. This has encouraged both men and women to adapt to changing roles in order to maintain the stability and wellbeing of their families ( Goldscheider, Bernhardt, and Lappegård, 2015 ). Stronger family ties and greater family involvement by men should enhance the capacity of families to care for older generations when they need help.

Late-life families, changing family structures

These changing patterns of marriage, divorce, and childbearing over the last thirty years have resulted in late-life families that are increasingly diverse in structure and in relationships. Most family transitions around these patterns, which lead to such diverse relationships, occur at younger ages, when individuals are forming families and having children. This means that these transitions have primarily affected older people in families because of upheavals taking place among their adult children. When adult children experience marital disruptions, familial intergenerational relationships are impacted.

Older persons in families have to navigate new relationships with divorced children, former sons- and daughters-in-law, and grandchildren who may have different sets of parents. This can have especially profound effects on relationships with grandchildren, because these relationships often depend on the closeness between the grandparent and the parent of that grandchild. On the positive side, grandparents in many cases have been the most stable and consistent relationships in their grandchildren’s lives ( Hagestad and Uhlenberg, 2007 ).

Changes in cohort succession

Now, as the Baby Boom Generation and later generations enter old age, these changes are affecting family life through cohort succession. In 2000, the older (ages 65 and older) population was made up of people born before 1935; by 2015, it was made up of those born before 1950; and in 2030, it will be composed of those born in 1965 and earlier. The current aging cohort—the baby boomers— are more likely to have divorced, remarried, or cohabited.

As more baby boomers divorced, there has been a modest rise in multiple-partner fertility (e.g., when a divorced parent remarries and has children with their new spouse) ( Guzzo, 2014 ). The combination of baby boomers’ disrupted marital histories, and the increasing levels of extramarital and multiple-partner fertility among younger generations, positions baby boomers to enter old age with fewer “traditional” sources of support (spouses and biological children), but with many more ex-spouses, stepchildren, and distant relatives. Projections based on recent data estimate that by 2030, fewer baby boomers will be married or live within ten miles of a biological child, compared with their parents’ generation ( Ryan et al., 2012 ).

Remarriage, Step-Families, and Intergenerational Support

As people age and experience needs for day-to-day assistance, they rely primarily on family members for support. Most help given to older persons is non-compensatory, non-medical care provided by family and friends. Caregivers manage the effects of disabilities and chronic disease, household tasks, and provide emotional support. The most central and stable relationships in later life are among families, spouses, and children; these relationships provide emotional support, instrumental assistance, and caregiving. Older generations also assist children and grandchildren. Parents often continue to provide financial support quite late in life, even to middle-age children, and grandparents are actively involved with grandchildren; some are their grandchildrens’ primary caregivers ( McGarry and Schoeni, 1997 ; Uhlenberg and Hammill, 1998 ).

It is well-established that marital disruption has negative impacts on supports provided between parents and children and vice versa. This is particularly true for fathers, who are more likely to leave the family home as a consequence of divorce ( Noël-Miller, 2013 ). While most of these changes occur earlier in life, divorce and remarriage later in life also can reduce the support given to and received from children ( Shapiro and Remle, 2011 ).

Stepchildren provide less support (of all kinds) than biological children, and they receive less from stepparents. Stepchildren also are less likely to live near or with stepparents (Seltzer, Lau, and Bianchi, 2013). Men and women have worse outcomes (disability and mortality) when they only have stepchildren available to help them, but older women appear to benefit from the presence of stepchildren when they are in addition to biological children ( Pezzin, Pollak, and Schone, 2013 ).

The type and amount of support provided in step-relationships varies depending upon the age of the children when the stepparent entered their life. Stepparents who joined a family when children were younger, especially those who live with the children when they are growing up, tend to have closer, more parental relationships with the children when they become adults, and receive more support from them. ( Pezzin and Schone, 1999 ). Younger children have been shown to have the time to form deeper relationships with stepparents, which lead to greater closeness in adulthood ( Becker et al., 2013 ; Kalmijn, 2013 ).

The nature of these relationships is varied, and depends not only on the relationship between the parent and (step)child, but also on the presence of other family members and the quality of those relationships. When an adult child’s biological parent is alive and still married to the stepparent, it increases care given by those children to the stepparent ( Pezzin, Pollak, and Schone, 2009 ). This is consistent with research showing that the quality of parent–stepparent relationships affects the degree to which adolescents remain close to stepparents as they grow into adulthood ( King and Lindstrom, 2016 ). Similarly, the presence of children (biological or step) increases the hours of care provided by spouses. ( Pezzin, Pollak, and Schone, 2009 ).

Older persons are only beginning to be affected by these changes, but the prevalence of divorce, remarriage, and multiple-partner fertility is growing as younger cohorts with more complex families age into later life. It is important that clinicians and other practitioners working with older adults explore the availability and reliability of family members to be involved in the decision-making and care for older family members.

The Importance of Acknowledging Family Diversity

Older people often are treated as though they share the same concerns and perspectives because they belong to the same age group. However, we know that the older population is a tremendously heterogeneous group that spans four decades in age and is growing ever more diverse in ethnicity, nativity, and race, as well as in socioeconomic status. The family changes described in this article have not affected groups equally across the socio-demographic spectrum. Higher rates of cohabitation, earlier fertility, and procreation with multiple partners have increasingly been concentrated among lower socioeconomic families, while people with more education experience childbearing later in life and longer survival, which leads to an increase in the potential for sandwich generations ( Furstenberg, 2014 ).

African American and Hispanic populations are younger, have higher fertility, and are more likely to live in multi-generational family households. Higher fertility and shorter generations play out in larger, younger families. Seltzer and Yahirun (2014) found that among both African American and Hispanic elders ages 55 or older, about 30 percent have at least four sets of grandchildren, compared with 16 percent of white elders. Social class differences are similar—among those ages75 and older, 38 percent of those who did not complete high school have four sets of grandchildren, compared with 19 percent of college-educated older adults.

Social class and race and ethnic differences have been exacerbated by the recent recession, which led many older adults and families to “double up,” moving in together to pool scarce resources ( Seltzer, Lau, and Bianchi, 2012 ). Although research has provided some insight into the challenges that older minority families face, a better understanding of the structure and support these relationships provide for older adults is needed.

New Family Relationships

Although this article has outlined some of the main changes that have been developing and that will affect later-life families and intergenerational support, there are many new issues just beginning to emerge—issues that will need further investigation before their consequences are known.

One is the rise in new non-marital partnerships among older persons. An increasing number of couples are either cohabiting or “living apart together” in later life. Cohabitation in mid-life and older ages is growing primarily among those of lower socioeconomic status, though the presence of children and grandchildren increases the probability that an older adult will remarry rather than live in an unmarried partnership. Late-life cohabitations seem to be quite stable, however, compared with cohabitation earlier in life ( Brown, Bulanda, and Lee, 2012 ).

Some older persons are choosing to maintain separate households rather than to cohabit, dubbed “living apart together.” Qualitative research indicates that formerly married persons at older ages enter into such relationships because they want to balance a shared, intimate relationship with autonomy and independence. These people in these couples tend to be more work-oriented, individualistic, and egalitarian than married people. Studying living-apart-together relationships is limited by lack of data on non-residential unions and ambiguity about whether a couple is living apart together or in a dating relationship ( de Jong Gierveld and Merz, 2013 ).

Population aging and family change are inextricably intertwined, and are transforming intergenerational relations in later life. As the share of the older population rises, social changes in the role of women, and the nature of family have also transformed later-life families. More people live in families with three or more generations for most of their lives, and grow up with two working parents or in single-parent families. Increases in divorce, remarriage, and cohabitation indicate that new cohorts are entering old age with a diverse set of ties to family, but ones that may be ill-defined and potentially weaker. These family changes are affecting different ethnic groups and social classes disproportionately, with multiple-partner fertility and cohabitation more common among minority elders and occurring at lower levels of socioeconomic status.

Although these changes are just beginning to play out in the older population, they are underway. Recognizing the diversity of family resources and the potential challenges and constraints will be necessary for professionals and providers working with older persons.

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Women’s Changing Roles in Society, Essay Example

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Women’s roles have changed from the beginning until modern times. Initially, women were taught to be submissive. They were to obey God, people in authority, their parents, and their husbands. Married women’s submissiveness was both a religious and a legal duty. However, women fought for equality and human dignity and, with time, gained independence. As a result, the role of women has constantly been changing. For example, women were initially the primary givers of the elderly and children, but with time women are now taking the lead in helping families adjust to challenges and new realities. This paper will analyze the societal changes in the role of women in the workplace over time.

When two people perform the same job, they should get the same pay regardless of their hair colour, race, height, or gender. In 2018, the United States women’s national soccer team qualified for the World Cup. The team has been generating more revenue compared to its male counterparts over the years. The women players have a union that bargains for higher base pay and other benefits, including maternity leave. Women have gotten into soccer contracts that require the soccer management to pay accordingly until their contracts expire. Nowadays, women face no discrimination in pay, but their work choices lead to payment differences. Today, women have options and opportunities in the labour market; they can choose whether to take flexible jobs or climb the corporate ladder. Their choices depend on whether they want to work remotely or balance their family needs. Though there are some differences in men’s and women’s overall wages, regardless of gender, one can make choices, for there are free-market principles that create job opportunities and higher incomes for everybody (Greszler n.p.).

After the Second World War, many regarded a family as their center of life. Women gave up their jobs to take care of their families. As a result, the men became the only breadwinners as women were to care for the children. In 1920, 47% of college students were women, but the number declined; by 1958, the figure was 38%, despite federal aid in university education (Office of the Historian n.p). Women in congress had constraints due to the social expectations of women’s proper role. The women faced prejudice before joining politics because society believed women’s place was at home. Like in Andy Knutson’s case, women’s careers would be sabotaged by their husbands. Her husband would accuse her of neglecting their family and even having extra-marital affairs. However, in the 1960s, the women’s rights movement challenged traditional marriage and motherhood notions. Reproductive and sexual freedom provided several options for women. In the 1970s, women were in careers and would help with family duties. Divorce cases rose, and single working mothers became common. Over the years, women pursued male-dominated courses and engaged in national and state politics (Office of the Historian n.p).

Over the years, women have had different experiences. Some societies had political leaders, warriors, and powerful priests. Some people express that women are inferior to men. Currently, in Western societies, women enjoy equality. Women in the past have lost and gained power in different seasons. Women initially faced discrimination and gender-based violence. Some women were vital figures in ancient times, and their names echo history. Some women engaged in herbal medicine, and male doctors considered it witchcraft and quackery treatment. As a result, governments made it illegal to practice medicine without university studies, and women did not get admission opportunities to universities. Women were homemakers and were not allowed to vote. They could not own businesses and had lesser property rights than men. However, the world wars showed women were equal to the task in factory work as they positively contributed to the economy’s growth. In the 20th century, women had equality gains. Nowadays, women have work choices and enjoy job equality (McKeown, n.p.).

Regardless of the cultural narratives, women are heroes and leaders. Nowadays, there is a shift in perceptions of what women and girls can do. There have been a lot of female leaders, innovators, and heroes (Laitman, n.p). Women mainly constitute America’s workforce. Most managers in companies are women. Americans now prefer having a daughter because they think their daughters will have better lives than their mothers, great mothers, and even their brothers(Rosin n.p.). Initially, parents would reject daughters. Things are changing since women are doing better in the economy than men. Countries now force women into power to improve the nation’s fortunes (Sek?ci?ska et al., 365). For instance, after the post-genocide in Rwanda, citizens elected most women in parliament to heal themselves from the harm and massive killings that happened; women are believed to be comforters and a source of peace due to their caring nature. America’s working class is turning to matriarchy, which earlier had masculinity notions. Women making decisions at home initially meant to be done by men is common, for they have been increasingly absent from home.

American projects show that out of 15 job categories are projected to grow in future, except two. The rest of the job categories, including medicine and business, will be primarily occupied by women. Upper-class women leave their homes to work, creating domestic jobs for other women. Women are now going to work while their husbands stay home, minding their kids or looking for jobs; this has pushed women to do things against the natural norm. Women work as singles, and once they get married, they still work, leaving their children at home. They are even dominating middle management and several professional careers. In 1980, women held 26.1% of professional and managerial jobs, unlike today, where the rate has increased to 51.4% (Rosin, n.p.). Women are acquiring formal education, improving their social intelligence and communication skills. Women adopt office work. Nowadays, women have a better list of job requirements than men. As far as employers give women an opportunity to work with minimum pleasure, they are dutiful and intelligent. There have been prominent female CEOs in the past and even the present. However, women face challenges due to their motherly duties, breastfeeding. Some companies, for instance, Deloitte, have a model program that allows employees to adjust their working hours depending on their stage in life. The program solves complex issues, including breastfeeding women to balance work and motherhood. In leadership, women are competitive and assertive, with very slight variations from their male counterparts. Women are bringing superior moral sensibility to the business world.

A recent study shows many Americans believe women are competent just like their male counterparts. Initially, women had a glass ceiling that hindered them from rising to the top jobs (Bennett, n.p.). However, in the recent past, women are slowly rising to the top rank positions. They are no longer restricted to household chores and looking after their families. Women are increasingly acquiring higher education, getting better income, and they have long-term careers. They do not require heavy labour, for they are skilled just like men. In addition, most women are trustworthy and transparent (Sek?ci?ska et al., 365). Their transparency benefits the companies they work for and themselves; it fosters an inclusive environment for them to have more significant opportunities, fulfilling their potential. Women managers promote employee well-being more consistently than their male counterparts. They support the team members with work-life challenges and help them manage their workloads.

In the 21st century, women’s education and income continue to rise. The number of women in college continues to grow steadily. Higher education increases the likelihood of increased earnings. Women in the workforce increased by almost double in this century. Fifty per cent of American women-owned firms and about one million were in the private labour force.; Equal opportunities legislation, the feminist movement, economic knowledge, increased education access, and service sector expansion significantly contributed to the change in women’s labour force. Women are now in occupations previously regarded as male roles. Female employment trends have significantly impacted women’s economic empowerment. According to economists, the growing participation of women in the workforce substantially affects the nation’s GDP, raising it by 21%. Many women own businesses and are entrepreneurs who bring in money for the government.

In conclusion, women have made tremendous progress in the workforce. Women are now more educated and economically empowered than ever before; they earn higher wages for the same work as men and enjoy greater access to better jobs and positions of leadership. They have balanced their family life with their career options. Women in the workforce have significantly contributed to our society’s economic growth. It is essential to realize that despite the progress, there is still work regarding gender equality and equal pay for women and men. Women should continue to break boundaries, push for higher wages and strive for leadership positions. With determination and hard work, women can achieve anything they set their minds to.

Works Cited

Bennett, Jessica. “Who Still Calls It a ‘Glass Ceiling?’ Not the 6 Women Running for President.” The New York Times , 23 July 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/07/23/us/politics/glass-ceiling-female-candidates-2020.html.

Greszler, Rachel. “Why the Pay Gap between Women’s and Men’s Soccer?” The Heritage Foundation , 2019, www.heritage.org/jobs-and-labor/commentary/why-the-pay-gap-between-womens-and-mens-soccer.

Laitman, Michael. “Women’s Changing Role in Society.” Medium, Good Audience, 28 Aug. 2018, blog.goodaudience.com/womens-changing-role-in-society-c7a957a0272b

McKeown, Marie. “Women through History: Women’s Experience through the Ages.” Owlcation, 4 May 2011, owlcation.com/humanities/Women-Through-History.

Office of the Historian. “Postwar Gender Roles and Women in American Politics.” US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives , history.house.gov/Exhibitions-and-Publications/WIC/Historical-Essays/Changing-Guard/Identity/.

Rosin, Hanna. “The End of Men.” The Atlantic , 8 June 2010, www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/07/the-end-of-men/308135/.

Sek?ci?ska, Katarzyna, et al. “The Influence of Different Social Roles Activation on Women’s Financial and Consumer Choices.” Frontiers in Psychology, 7 (2016): 365.

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The Evolution of Women's Roles in Society: A Critical Analysis

Analyzing gender roles and societal impact through historical perspectives..

In his new book, “How America Lost Its Mind: The Assault on Reason That's Crippling Our Democracy,” Thomas Patterson looks at the rejection of traditional gender norms and the shifting roles of women in society. He delves into how these changes have influenced the political landscape and the overall functioning of democracy.

In a newly revised book, an anthropologist dismantles untruths, including notions about the nature of the differences between men and women. This challenges the traditional views on gender roles and highlights the importance of understanding the complexities of gender identity.

While technology experts and scholars have concerns about the current and future impact of the internet, they also tend to report their own biases and perspectives on gender roles. The intersection of technology and gender plays a crucial role in shaping societal norms and expectations.

A criminologist contrasts the stories surrounding serial homicide with real data to help explain society's macabre fascination with these crimes. This analysis sheds light on how gender stereotypes and societal expectations contribute to the narratives surrounding crime and violence.

Louis Menand on Betty Friedan, “The Feminine Mystique,” and the power of the books that defined the early years of the women's-liberation movement. This highlights the importance of literature in challenging traditional gender roles and advocating for women's rights.

Gender identity - the evidence from our closest evolutionary relatives suggests gender identity might not be limited to humans. This research challenges the notion of fixed gender roles and emphasizes the fluidity of gender identity across different species.

The evolution of women's roles in society has been influenced by various factors, including historical events, cultural norms, and political movements. Women have consistently fought for equality and recognition in various spheres of life, challenging traditional gender roles and advocating for social change.

The feminist movement has played a pivotal role in shaping societal attitudes towards women's roles, advocating for equal rights, opportunities, and representation. This has led to significant progress in gender equality, although challenges and inequalities still persist in various areas.

The intersectionality of gender, race, class, and other social identities has further complicated the discourse on women's roles in society. It is essential to consider the unique experiences and challenges faced by women from diverse backgrounds and communities.

Women have made significant strides in various fields, including politics, business, science, and the arts, challenging stereotypes and breaking barriers. However, systemic inequalities and discrimination continue to hinder progress towards gender equality and full representation in society.

The representation of women in media, literature, and popular culture plays a crucial role in shaping societal perceptions of gender roles and expectations. It is important to critically analyze and challenge stereotypes and biases perpetuated in mainstream media and cultural narratives.

Education and awareness are key factors in promoting gender equality and empowering women to pursue their goals and aspirations. By challenging traditional gender norms and advocating for equal rights and opportunities, society can create a more inclusive and equitable environment for all individuals.

Overall, the evolution of women's roles in society reflects a complex interplay of historical, cultural, and political factors. By acknowledging and addressing the challenges and inequalities that women face, society can work towards creating a more just and equitable world for all individuals.

Why women won greater political equality by 1928 Changing attitudes to women in society

Changing social and political attitudes, suffrage campaigns and World War One all contributed to women winning greater political equality.

Part of History Britain (1851-1951)

Changing attitudes to women in society

The Industrial Revolution brought many women into full-time employment. This meant they had opportunities to meet in large organised groups to discuss political and social issues.

In Britain, Acts of Parliament had been passed in 1832, 1867 and 1884 to establish universal male suffrage. However, at the outbreak of World War One, all British females continued to be excluded from the national political process:

• they could not stand as candidates for parliament
• they were not allowed to vote

The traditional view of women

The traditional view of a woman’s place in society had kept them out of the political sphere since democracy was established in Britain:

• women were seen as physically, mentally, emotionally and morally inferior to men
• it was felt that women could not be trusted to vote rationally
• a woman's sphere of influence was seen to be the home and raising children
• public life, including politics was seen to belong to the male sphere of influence
• it was believed that women involved in politics would neglect their responsibilities at home
• it was assumed that women did not need the vote - their husbands took that responsibility
• some women even believed that females were not capable of understanding politics

Many women themselves, including Queen Victoria, agreed that women should not take part in politics

The profoundly educated women rarely make good wives or mothers.

Women did not just lack political equality. Women had few legal rights, especially once married: all possessions became her husband's, while she had no rights over her children. Domestic abuse was commonplace, legal and widely seen as acceptable.

Changing attitudes

A number of laws were passed to improve female standing in society. All of these laws paved the way for further reform in favour of women:

• 1873 Infant Custody Act – increased women’s rights over children including the possibility of sole custody in the case of divorce
• 1882 and 1893 Married Women’s Property Acts – women now personally owned property that had been purchased before and during marriage, if it had been purchased with her own finances
• 1870 and 1872 Education Acts – compulsory education for girls and boys from 5-12 years of age
• 1894 Local Government Act – women gained the right to vote and stand for elections at local council level, although a property and tax qualification had to be met.

Women increasingly become involved in work that was seen as traditionally male, such as teaching. Other white-collar jobs such as nursing also improved the standing of women.

From 1888 women could vote in many local council elections.

The social and economic changes to the lives of women helped to reduce male prejudices.

The more females became successful in the ‘male’ world, the more it became acceptable. Many men began to see the stereotypical view of women as outdated. This, in turn led many to question women’s exclusion from politics.

More guides on this topic

• Why Britain became more democratic, 1851–1928
• How democratic Britain became - 1867 - 1928
• Why the Liberals introduced social welfare reforms
• The effectiveness of the Liberal social welfare reforms
• Effectiveness of the Labour social welfare reforms, 1945–51
• Working conditions in Scottish industry in the 1940s

Related links

• BBC History: Emily Davison
• BBC Archive: Suffragettes
• Spartacus: Emmeline Pankhurst
• British Library: suffrage

Essay on Role of Women in Society for School Students

Table of Contents

The role of women in society has been a highly contested topic throughout history. In general, the role of women has been largely subordinate to that of men; however, there have been a number of cultures and societies in which women have played a more equal or even dominant role. The status of women in society is determined by a number of factors, including economic, social, and political factors.

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The role of women in society has been changing rapidly in recent years. In many countries, women have been granted equal rights to men, and they have been able to participate in all aspects of society, including the workforce. However, there are still many societies in which women are not treated equally to men, and their roles are more limited.

We have provided various essays on role of women in society under different word limits for the school students.

Long and Short Essay on Role of Women in Indian Society in English

Role of women in society essay 1 (100 words).

Women play variety of significant roles in our society from their birth till the end of life. Even after playing her all the roles and all the job timely in efficient manner in the modern society, she is weak because men are still strongest gender of the society. Even after lots of awareness programmes, rules and regulations in the society by the government, her life is more complicated than a man. She has to take care of herself and family members as daughter, granddaughter, sister, daughter-in-law, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, etc. By following such a big responsibility in the family, they are fully able to come out and do job for bright future of own, family and country.

Role of Women in Society Essay 2 (150 words)

Women are considered as the goddess in the Indian society from the ancient time however it is also true that they are not treated as goddess. They are being ill-treated for many years and used just as things to fulfil the wishes of men. Considering them as goddess is not enough to give them full women empowerment in the society; however it needs positive continuous effort and participation of both men and women to really bring women empowerment.

Women play a great role in everyone’s life without whom we cannot imagine the success of life. They are the highly responsible for the successful continuation of the life on this planet. Earlier they were considered as only wives and mother who have to cook food, clean home and take care of the whole family members alone. But, now the condition has been improved a little bit, they have started taking part in the many activities other than family and kids.

Role of Women in Society Essay 3 (200 words)

The way of behaving, thinking and doing of women is completely different from the men so we can say that women are physically, physiologically and psychologically not equal to men. But women are more responsible than men in various means like child-bearing and child-rearing. The tradition and culture of women lifestyle in India is coming as usual for many years without any change however in terms of rights of women, it is so bad and backward than other countries. The main question is why it is so, is women are responsible for their backwardness or men or lots of women’s responsibilities in home.

Women are treated differently than men in terms of rights and dues in many Indian societies even in the modern world. Men have dominating nature over women in various perspectives. It is the matter of think that if women are given all the same facilities like men and force them to be free from all the home responsibilities and think like men then why not it is possible for women to be like men psychologically in every areas of life. Earlier women were limited to home works only and not allowed to go outside to perform social works like men. But things are getting changed now; women are being aware of their rights and understanding well the dominating nature of men over their whole life.

Article on Women Empowerment

Role of Women in Society Essay 4 (250 words)

If we compare the current status of women than the ancient time, we can say that really the condition is improving gradually. Women are being professional, bread-earners for their families and an independently thinking individual of the country even after only being responsible for many responsibilities of the life. Traditional Indian women have started proving themselves more skilled and competent in many professions than men. And, day by day the situation is improving fast by breaking all the barriers of the way.

The Indian government also has played great role in the women empowerment by implementing various rules and regulations. The ancient time trends such as female foeticide, dowry deaths, early child marriage, domestic abuse, child labour, sexual harassment, etc have been banned by the government which has really improved the women status in the society. A woman plays variety of great roles in everyone’s life in various forms by being involved in various relationships. From her birth till her end of life, she plays various roles as a daughter, sister, wife, mother and other relationships. However, her main roles are as a wife and mother. The status of women in urban societies is better however in various rural societies it is still worse because of lack of proper education and education system. A woman give birth to a baby and considered to be only responsible for her baby regarding care, education, job, etc for whole life. She never demands anything in return of her roles instead she performs her roles politely all through the life without any argue.

Role of Women in Society Essay 5 (300 words)

Women in modern Indian society are really forward if we compare them from the ancient time but if we talk about the women empowerment, we can say that not really women are empowered in all areas. Even after being so forward, women need to go for long way defeating hard circumstances. Women have gained lots of influence in various fields until balance between two genders. We can say that women have more freedom than earlier however not true in many cases because prejudice still remains in the society.

In many places, women are still treated as inferior sex and forced to handle only house hold chores. Some women in the society love to follow the old traditions of the family and perform traditional female role by being housewife and mother. They live their whole life as general helpers to their husbands and kids. It has been in the usual practise for a woman by birth to handle home and stay unemployed at home. Some women from the society of high living status are keen to get employed like men in the future because they have been lived in the society having higher level of thoughts like that. They are never ill-treated in their family and always promoted to do better in life like men. However women in the backward society, where people only mean to earn food of two times daily, never understand their rights and responsibilities like men. All the differences are just because of the lack of proper education and education system in that area.

Women need to realize their roles towards their society and country together with their roles at home which is possible through the continuous effort, gender equality and women empowerment. People are being more advance in their behaviour and thoughts towards the women rights and empowerment.

Role of Women in Society Essay 6 (400 words)

Women play a great role in the growth and development of the society and making it an advanced and modern society. There is a famous saying by the Brigham Young that, “You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation.” Educating and giving power to the women is of great importance which needs to be followed in the society to bring women empowerment and development of society. Because it is true that, if a man is getting educated and empowered, only he can be benefitted however if a woman is getting educated and empowered, whole family and society can be benefitted.

Women are not things which can be neglected because of their less power and authority instead they should be empowered and promoted to get higher education. Women are the half population of the world mean half power of the world. If women of any country are not empowered mean that country is lack of half power. By nature, women play their all the roles with great responsibilities and have capability to make a healthy family, solid society and powerful country. Lots of efforts have been done however still women are backward and limited to home activities. We need to understand that if an uneducated woman may handle home properly then why not a well educated woman can lead the whole country like men.

Without woman nothing is possible for men, they are basic unit of the society, they make a family, family make a home, home make a society and ultimately societies make a country. So the contribution of a woman is everywhere from taking birth and giving birth to a child to the care for whole life and other areas. All the roles and responsibilities of the women can never be neglected by the societies. Without education and women empowerment no development is possible in the family, society and country. Women know well how to talk, how to behave, how to deal with people of different classes, etc. She knows to handle all the situations because she knows well the basic fundamentals of a good society and play her roles politely as a main contributor in building a strong society.

Earlier, when the lives of women were worse than slaves, women were considered as animals and used as sex toys. It was a sin for women to give birth to a girl baby, either they were killed, buried alive or thrown away by the male head of the family. However, the condition has become advance now in many means but not completely.

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Frequently Asked Questions on Role of Women in Society

What is the role of women in society essay.

An essay on the role of women in society discusses the multifaceted roles women play, from homemakers to professionals, shaping the cultural, economic, and social fabric of their communities. It emphasizes the evolving importance and recognition of women's contributions over time.

What is women's status in society?

Women's status in society has seen significant evolution. Historically, many societies marginalized women, but today, increasing recognition of women's rights has led to their enhanced status in many areas. Yet, disparities persist in various regions and sectors.

What are the basic rights of women?

The basic rights of women include the right to life, equality, education, freedom from discrimination, right to work, health, and protection from violence. These rights aim to ensure women can live with dignity, make choices, and participate fully in society.

What are the problems faced by women today?

Women today face a myriad of challenges, including gender wage gaps, domestic violence, limited access to education in some regions, workplace discrimination, and societal stereotypes. These issues vary in intensity across different societies and cultures.

What are the biggest women issues in India?

In India, major issues faced by women include gender-based violence, dowry-related crimes, female infanticide, limited access to education in some areas, workplace discrimination, and issues related to women's reproductive rights.

What is the need for women empowerment?

Women empowerment is essential to ensure that women have equal opportunities to contribute to and benefit from economic, social, cultural, and political advancements. Empowering women leads to a balanced and progressive society, where all members can thrive.

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Ielts essay # 28 - the position of women in society has changed markedly in the last twenty years, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, the position of women in society has changed markedly in the last twenty years. many of the problems young people now experience, such as juvenile delinquency, arise from the fact that many married women now work and are not at home to care for their children..

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