Women in the Workplace: Still Facing Wrongful Discrimination?

      Previously throughout history, women were discriminated towards in the workplace. But do

Women Working Low Class Jobs
Photo: post-gazette.com

women still face that struggle today? In the past, women were not given the ability to equally compete for jobs and careers for many reasons: they were not permitted the education required to become professionals, under law and societal classification, women were to be supported by the man, they were to take a negative hit on image if in the workforce, and exclusion from politics. (Women's International Center)

     Susan B. Anthony mentioned in her 1871 speech of Suffrage and the Working Woman, that she had come across a lady who truly believed in complete dependence of males through the statement of: "No indeed, indeed ladies. I'll have you to understand my husband is a gintleman and no gintleman allows his wife to go out and work." At the time, labor was seen as more degrading to women than men, but this ignored the fact that most women (obviously not the woman Susan B. Anthony mentioned) were up for the work to become independent. But aside from women's longings, society did not agree with allowing women to enter the workforce as men saw no need. Since women were not allowed to vote either, officials saw no point in hiring women who could not vote for them in political standards.  Another experience Anthony detailed in her speech was a personal conversation with a judge: "'Miss Anthony, I was almost converted by your lecture last night. I have one son and one daughter. The son is at college,' I asked him, 'Is your son possessed of the requisite ability to place him in your position?' 'No,' he replied; 'he will spend his days in a garrett daubing paints on a canvass. But my daughter has a splendid legal mind, and understands already much of my duties, What a pity she was not a boy!'" As we can see through studying feminism and women's rights, many issues females faced were intertwined as one could not work well without the other. (Anthony, Susan B.)

Elizabeth Blackwell
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      Elizabeth Blackwell was a bright image for women in the workforce. She was the first woman formally admitted to medical school and graduated at the top of her class in 1849 at Geneva College. She also faced much discrimination and was led to found her her own institution to teach herself and other women doctors, the New York Infirmary for Women. In 1853, the Philadelphia Female Medical College was the first of its kind, although graduates struggled greatly to be accepted among male doctors. During this time, other professions allowing women to take role were decreasing. Although it is hard to believe, males replaced almost all female midwives. There were less female storekeepers and business holders, and women were mostly found in businesses only pertaining to women. (Elizabeth Blackwell)

Women in the Workforce Poster
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      Limitations women face in the workplace today are quite alarming and occur for many reasons in the United States and around the world. Women may face discrimination because of their physical abilities, feminine appearance, family planning, and societal stereotypes. (Kane, Sonia) The United States has past several legislation decisions to attempt to eliminate gender inequality in the workplace. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in the workplace which addresses equal benefits, sexual harassment, hiring, and firing. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act, prohibits discrimination based on pregnancy. However, there is still unreported and unproven discrimination for this reason. The United Nations proposed the concept of the "glass ceiling" which states that there are barely any societies where women are completely to par with men. With this statement, the Glass Ceiling Commission was created as a government-funded group. According the the Commission, "Over half of all Master's degrees are now awarded to ladies, yet, 95% of senior-level managers, of the top Fortune 1000 industrial and 500 service companies are men." (Godbole, Medha) 

 

Indian Women Protesting for Equality
Photo: Thehindu.com

    There have been many accounts of female discrimination in the workplace over the years. According to Scholastic.com, Meredith Vieira, a ABC news correspondent, had always wanted to travel overseas to the Middle East, but an executive member responded to her requests stating, "I just don't want you to get killed over there. That would never have happened with a man." Also, according to Ellen Futter, president of the American Museum of Natural History and former president of Barnard College in New York City, "Young women have opportunities to pursue careers in virtually all fields of human endeavor, but their opportunities remain largely those of training and entry....There are few women...at the very tops of their occupational fields."(Scholastic.com) 

      Aside from American society, there is a great deal of discrimination in other countries. In 1992, an Indian female government official was gang raped by five men after attempting to refrain from them marrying off a girl who was less than a year old. Since then, the landmark case has given women stronger rights in the workforce, but the negatives continue to weigh out the positives. In some or possibly most areas of the Middle East, women are not allowed to own a business or travel without permission from a male relative. This is also the case in some Asian and African countries. (Godbole, Medha) As we can see by the immense amount of discrimination around the world, discrimination in the workplace is not even close to being abandoned. 

Sources:

"Blackwell, Elizabeth." Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia (2014): 1p. 1. Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.

Godbole, Medha. "Discrimination Against Women in the Workplace." Buzzle. Buzzle.com, n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.

Kane, Sonia, and Suzanne McCabe. "Women in the U.S. Today." Scholastic Publishes Literacy Resources and Children's Books for Kids of All Ages. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.

Lemonick, Michael. "I'm Beautiful But Hire Me Anyway." Time. Time, 10 Oct. 2014. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.

"Susan B. Anthony." - Women's Political Communication Archives. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.

"What We Do | National Glass Ceiling Commission." What We Do | National Glass Ceiling Commission. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.

"WIC - Women's History in America." WIC - Women's History in America. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2014.