Thesis: In contrast to the 1950s, there are more women in the white collared work force, and this is a result of better education being provided to women, more societal freedom, increased opportunities for women, technological change and expansion of industries that has required a greater number workers.

Introduction: Like contemporary man, primitive man too had set for himself living patterns. These developed with the passage of time, as man explored himself. Right up till today the same exercise continues. Man continues his never-ceasing voyage in understanding himself better.

Prior to this present period, man had created barriers between the two sexes; gender awareness was well known to man ages ago, and on the basis of this men generally dominated women. Many women had suffered significantly due to this barrier, and as a result, a struggle had been ignited in which women wished to achieve equal power and no longer be suppressed by men. It is this struggle that can be viewed as the cause of the changing gender roles that have emerged today.

Fifty years ago as well, conditions were not what women would have wanted although they had significantly improved. In the 1950s, women did work outside their homes and several of them were supporting agents to their families as well. However, since then, things have drastically changed, and the women’s rights movement has made sure that women strive more and more for freedom and equality in their professional lives.

Analysis:

Amelioration of economic conditions in a culture may cause the expectations of people to change. This factor has also played significant role in the amelioration of women’s careers over the years.

Due to the fact that large industries were being developed prior to the 1950’s, women gradually had more scope for professional work. If they were educated enough they would be able to expand their horizons.

Precisely, this is what happened. The more jobs that happened to come into the market, the higher their chances were. More and more women also began to receive an education as well. This was because there was more awareness of the fact that the more a woman was educated the better her chances were at getting a good post (Ladies last, 2002).

With diminishing cultural constraints on women, even for those days, more women were in fact able to attain an education and get themselves jobs. However, changes in women’s careers demonstrated during the latter part of the 1900s were bound to face stiff opposition by conservative individuals in commanding positions. In fact, it is amazing that women have managed to come this far in spite of many hurdles.

Even today, one maybe compelled to admit that challenges are being faced and met, and this is reflected in the words of David Rockefeller: "It is clear to me that the entire structure of our society is being challenged." (MacLean, 1999)

American society did change in the last 50 years for the better as far as gender roles were concerned, and it was because of awareness and struggle that the rights of all were beginning to materialize. Various careers that women have been interested in since the 1950s, has certainly expanded, and this has resulted in greater competition between both genders, as well as among women themselves. In fact, because of the fewer places that are available to women today at the highest ranks, it must be asserted that they now struggle for them (VandeCreek, 2000).

Though there are negative sides to this, it must also be asserted that there are positive signs as well. The negative side is that women are struggling for posts that are few for them. However, the fact that there is a struggle going on indicates that there is a great deal of awareness among women; they know their capabilities and want to prove themselves by taking these important positions that are in fact few (Ladies last, 2002).

In addition to this, the fact that men are also competitors for the same posts makes the battle even more exciting. This is because of the fact tat women are now in the open, and they are ready to take on the roles of men. Several jobs that men used to do and were thought to be only posts that men could handle are now being taken by women. Top managerial posts as well are observed to be up for grabs for men and women in many cases (Hafner, 2004). This is in complete contrast to the scenario in the 1950s and 1960s, where several women opted for secretarial work.

With the passage of time all people were seen as equal, whether one was a man or a woman. Both genders have been given equal status, even though there are few who think otherwise. The laws support women and men equally, and this has had significant success for women in recent times.

From the beginning of this Post Modern period, one can see that women have become far more prominent than they were in their professional lives and other fields as well. The civil rights movement that demanded a non-segregated society, in which whites and non-whites could co-exist, also heralded this period (Flexner, 1959, 18-23).

Considering Post-Modernization, it must also be remembered that technological influence has helped encompass a greater number of women to be assimilated into the workforce. This means that there are more women that can take up any job she deems suitable. Also, in Post-modern times, it has become increasingly easier for women to enhance their education as well, in fact they may even keep their studies going while working, so that they can keep on bettering their prospects.

In contrast to the way that women were kept at home, today so many of them are working in top organizations. It also must be remembered that there are also several changes observed in these women’s lives.

One particular feature to note is that there are several working women who put off engagements until they are satisfied wit their careers. In view of women striving for the best positions such as CEO in a top organization, they might even have children late or not have them at all (Evans, 1989, 28-32).

It is worth assert6ing here that the existence of inequality that exists even today is based on the actions of individuals, especially those who are responsible for the functioning of the organization. However, here too women still face opposition from men. Few men somehow cannot digest the fact that women are equally capable, and this is exemplified by organizational practices that pressurize women (Evans, 1989, 28-32).

Considering these factors, it is worth including individuals in organizations from all levels. This is because there are differences in the ways that they are treated according to job status. The kinds of jobs that women hold, determines the way that they are treated.

Generally speaking, if they hold lower status jobs or blue color jobs not much is said to them at work or at home regarding their sex (Vinton, 1989, 151-166). If however women happen to hold high seats there are men that discourage them, and this especially the case where men outnumber women. Men in majority almost always hold sentiments against such women and maintain that a woman’s place is at home (Rutter, 1997, 22-27).

Since women are still in the process of emerging as equals to men all over the world, there have been varied degrees of success they have had in different areas. Perhaps in the United States and the European countries, being advanced countries, women have had the most success compared to other regions attaining better professions at top managerial levels.

In view of this, it appears that there is more and more awareness about the role of women all over the world today that women have begun to believe in themselves and their rights more. This is certainly in contrast to the 1950s when women did not strive for their positions. Although there certainly must have been several women at that time who wanted to climb up the professional ladder, there were not that many.

Finally, it must be asserted that though there are several women spread over the blue collar workforce, there are also many women in the white collar work force. In addition to this, it must also be remembered tat there are indeed many more women trying to ameliorate their professions, and so there will probably be many more in the white collared work force.

Works Cited:

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Evans, S. Born for Liberty: A History of Women in America. New York: Free Press Collier Macmillan. 28-32, 1989
Flexner, E. Century of Struggle: The Woman's Rights Movement in the United States. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. 18-23, 1959
Hafner, Katie. What Do Women Game Designers Want? Published: October 14, 2004. http://tech2.nytimes.com/mem/technology/techreview.html?res=980DE0DC1F3BF937A25753C1A9629C8B63
Ladies last, From The Economist Global Executive, Jun 6th 2002. http://www.economist.com/globalExecutive/education/printerFriendly.cfm?story_id=1164436
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VandeCreek, D. Women's Experience and Gender Roles. 2000. http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/women.html
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