The presentation explored the history of attitudes toward women's roles outside the home and how they have changed over time. It discussed how women's roles have varied in different historical periods and were often limited to the domestic sphere. In the late 19th/early 20th century, women began fighting for rights like voting and working outside the home. The feminist movement of the 1960s-70s further challenged traditional gender roles. Currently, though women make up half the workforce, they still face challenges like a gender pay gap, lack of leadership roles, and workplace harassment. The presentation examined how societal, political, and cultural factors have influenced perceptions of women's roles.
2. “A women's place is in the home.”
• This is a common phrase that has been
used to limit women's opportunities and
keep them confined to traditional gender
roles.
3. Overview
The purpose of this presentation is to explore the historical and cultural
attitudes towards women's roles outside the home and how they have
evolved over time. The objectives of this presentation are to educate the
audience about the historical context of these attitude's, analyze the impact
of societal changes on the roles of women, and highlight the ongoing
challenges that women face in achieving equality in the workforces. The
presentation aims to provide a comprehensive and interdisciplinary
understanding of the topic, drawing on insights from history, sociology,
gender studies, and other relevant disciplines. The goal is to encourage
critical thinking and reflection on how societal attitudes shape the
experiences and opportunities of women both in the past and present.
4. Throughout history women’s roles in society have varied greatly
depending on the time and place. In many ancient societies, women
held significant roles in the family and community, but were often
excluded from politics and leadership roles. During the Middle Ages,
women’s roles became more limited and focused on domestic duties
such as child rearing and household management. The Renaissance
and Enlightenment periods saw some progress in women’s rights, but it
was not until the 19th and 20th centuries that significant strides were
made towards gender equality.
5. In the late 19th and 20th centuries, the women’s
suffrage movement fought for the right to vote and
increased political representation for women. During
World War II, many women entered the workforce to
fill positions left vacant by men who were serving in
the military. This led to a shift in cultural attitudes
towards women’s abilities and potential outside of the
home.
6. The feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970s further
challenged traditional gender roles and advocated for
equal rights and opportunities for women in all aspects
of society. Since then, there have been continued efforts
to address gender inequality and promote women’s
empowerment in areas such as education, employment,
and leadership positions.
7. While progress has been made, there are still many
challenges and barriers faced by women today,
particularly in certain cultures and regions in the world.
The history of women’s roles in society provides
important context for understanding current issues
and ongoing efforts towards gender equality.
8. History
Throughout history, women’s roles in society have been limited and they have been expected to fulfill
traditional gender roles, primarily as wives and mothers. However, women’s roles have undergone significant
changes over time, driven by cultural, political, and societal factors. In the early 20th century, women begin to
fight for their rights, including the right to vote, work outside the home and receive equal pay. In the 1960s
and 1970s the feminist movement gained momentum, leading to significant legal changes, such as the Equal
Pay Act and Title IX. Despite these advances gender inequality remains an issue in many areas of society.
Protesting the
right to vote in
the early 20th
century.
Arms factory with
female workers
Women participating
in the civil rights
movement
Women during the
1960s Civil Rights
Movement
10. Changing Attitudes
Throughout history and across cultures, the portrayal of women’s roles in the media has been
reflective of the changing attitudes towards women’s place in society. In the early 20th century,
advertisements often depicted women as home makes, emphasizing their role in the domestic
sphere. An advertisement for Lysol disinfectant from the 1920s showed a woman cleaning the house
with the tagline “A woman’s work is never done-but its better done with Lysol.”
11. During World War II, women's roles in media shifted to emphasize their contributions to
the war effort. This imagery helped to challenge traditional gender roles and paved the
way for more woman to enter the workforce.
12. • In the 1950s and 1960s
televisions shows such as “I
Love Lucy” and “Leave it to
Beaver” portrayed women
as happy homemakers,
reinforcing traditional
gender roles. However, in
the 1970s and 1980s
television shows such as
the “Mary Tyler Moore
Show” and “Charlie Angels”
portrayed women in
nontraditional roles such
ass working professionals
and crime fighters.
13. In more recent years, advertising and media have continued to challenge gender
stereotypes and promote women's empowerment. In 2014, Always, a feminine hygiene
brand, launched their “Like A Girl” campaign which aimed to challenge the negative
connotations associated with the phrase “Like A Girl” and empower young girls to feel
confident and capable.
14. Overall, the portrayal of women's
roles in media has been reflective of
the changing attitudes towards
women in society. By examining the
media of different eras and cultures,
we can gain insight into the cultural
and political factors that have
influenced the changing attitudes
towards women's roles outside the
home.
15. Currently, women make up 50% of the global
workforce, but they still face significant challenge in
terms of pay equity, representation in leadership
positions, and workplace harassment. According to a
report by the World Economic Forum, it will take
another 99.5 years to achieve gender parity globally
if current trends continue. In terms of pay equity,
women still earn less then men in many industries
and countries. In the United States women earn 82
cents for every dollar earned by men. This pay gap is
even wider for women of color, with black women
earning only 63 cents and Latino women earning 55
cents for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic
men.
16. • Representation in leadership positions
is another area where women face
challenges. Despite making up nearly
half of the workforce, women are
significantly underrepresented in senior
leadership roles. In the United States
only 7.4% of Fortune 500 companies are
led by women. This lack of
representation in leadership positions
can perpetuate gender biases and make
it difficult for women to advance their
careers.
17. Workplace harassment is a
significant issue facing women in the
workforce. According to a survey by
the International Labour
Organization, 35% of women
globally have experienced some
form of sexual harassment in the
workplace. This harassment can take
many forms from unwanted physical
contact to verbal abuse and
discrimination.
18. Case studies of companies and organizations that
have made efforts to address these challenges can
provide examples of successful strategies promoting,
gender equality in the workplace. The company
Salesforce has implemented a program to address
pay equity, conducting regular reviews to ensure that
men and women are paid equally for equal work. The
LeanIn.org has also developed a program to train
managers on how to address bias and harassment in
the workplace.
19. Overall, while progress has been made in promoting gender
equality in the workforces and society there is still much work
to be done. By using statics and case studies to illustrated the
current challenges facing women, we can better understand
the steps that need to be taken to promote gender equality
and create a more equitable world for all.
Women's access to education, career advancement, and equal
pay are influenced by various economic and political factors. In
terms of education, the gender gap in education attainment
has been closing over the years, but still a significant disparity
exists in some countries. In many developing countries girls
have limited access to education due to poverty, cultural and
societal norms, and violence. Lack of education limits women's
opportunities for career advancement and equal pay women
who lack education and skill are less likely to secure jobs that
offer good pay, benefits and opportunities for growth and
advancement.
20. In terms of career advancement women are often
discriminated against the workplace due to gender
stereotypes and biases. Women face challenges
such as unconscious bias, lack of mentorship,
gender pay gap, and workplace harassment which
limit their opportunities for career advancement.
Women are unrepresented in leadership positions
sin many industries which limit their opportunities
to influence decision making process.
The gender pay gap is another factor that affects
women's access to equal pay. .On average women
earn less then men for doing the same job. The pay
gap is influenced by factors such as occupational
segregation, discrimination and the motherhood
penalty. Women are often concentrated in low
paying occupations and even when they work in
the same job as men they are paid less. Women are
penalized for taking time off to have children and
care for their families which affects their earnings
and career advancement opportunities.
21. In terms of political factors, policies such as
parental leave, flexible work arrangements,
and affordable childcare can help address
some of the challenges facing women in the
workforce. Governments can also implement
policies wand programs aimed at closing the
gender gap in education, encouraging more
women to enter male dominated industries
and promoting women leadership in the
workplace. Political factors such as gender
quota and affirmative action can help to
address the underrepresentation of women in
leadership positions and other male
dominated fields.
22. Overall economic and political factors play a crucial
role in determine women's access to education,
career advancement, and equal pay. Governments
and organizations must take concrete steps to
address the challenges facing women in the
workforce and create a more equitable society for all.
23. The presentation explored the history of women's roles outside the home, the
changing attitudes towards it and the current trends and challenges facing women
in the workforce and society. The presentation began with an overview of the
historical background, highlighting the key milestones and providing examples of
visual aids such as photographs, advertisements and media portrays of women's
roles through history.
24. It then delved into the sociological and political factors that
influenced the changing attitudes towards women's roles outside
the home. This section provided insights into the impact of
feminism, social movements, and legal reforms that have
contributed to a more equitable and inclusive society.
25. Next the presentation explored the current trends and
challenges facing women in the workforce, including
access to education, career advancement and equal pay.
It used statics and case studies to illustrate the existing
gender gaps in those areas and provided
recommendations for addressing them. Finally, the
presentation concluded by emphasizing the importance
of creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce and
the role that individuals and organizations can play in
promoting gender equality. The key takeaway from the
presentation is that while there has been progress in
terms of women's roles outside the home, there is still
work to be done to achieve true gender equality. It is
important for individuals and organizations to continue
advocating for change and taking action to create a
more equitable society.
26. Consider a women in your life who has inspired you
or faced challenges in her career. How can you
support her and other women in similar situations to
overcome barriers and achieve their goals?
In what ways have your own attitudes and beliefs
about gender roles evolved throughout your life?
What experiences or influences have shaped your
perspectives and how can you continue to learn and
grow in your understanding of this complex issue?