I created this PowerPoint during an internship in the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea.

1. Women in the WorkforceWomen in the Workforce
A Look at Changes that Have
Occurred for Women in the U.S.
By Stephanie Dodson

2. Traditional Roles for U.S. WomenTraditional Roles for U.S. Women

3. Traditional Roles for U.S. WomenTraditional Roles for U.S. Women
Prior to World War II, women in the
U.S. were expected to get married,
keep house, and raise children

4. Traditional “Female” JobsTraditional “Female” Jobs
SecretarySecretary
NurseNurse
HomemakerHomemaker
(Housewife)(Housewife)
SchoolteacherSchoolteacher
Phone OperatorPhone Operator
WaitressWaitress

5. •Women who did work outside the
home held traditional “female”
jobs such as nurse, secretary,
and schoolteacher
•These positions were lower-paid
than “male” jobs
•Once they got married, women
were expected to quit working
and stay home to raise children
Traditional “Female” JobsTraditional “Female” Jobs

6. Women in Popular Culture:Women in Popular Culture: I Love LucyI Love Lucy
•I Love Lucy was a popular TV
show that ran in the 1950’s
•The program featured Lucy, a
housewife who envied her
husband’s show business
career
•Lucy was expected to keep
house, raise children, and obey
her husband
I Love LucyI Love Lucy
1951-19571951-1957

7. World War IIWorld War II
(1941-1945)(1941-1945)
War Brings New ResponsibilitiesWar Brings New Responsibilities
For U.S. WomenFor U.S. Women

8. World War IIWorld War II
(1941-1945)(1941-1945)
•Prior to WWII, it was unusual for women to
work outside of the home
•When war broke out, most able-bodied men
became soldiers, resulting in a shortage of
workers
•Factory workers were needed to supply the
war effort, so women were encouraged to
support their country by getting jobs
•For the first time, many women had the
opportunity to enter the workforce

9. Female Factory Workers During WWIIFemale Factory Workers During WWII

10. •“We can do it” posters
urged women to take part in
the war effort
•“Rosie the Riveter”
represents the six million
women who worked in
factories during WWII
•“Rosie” now serves as a
feminist icon and symbol of
women’s economic power
““Rosie the Riveter”Rosie the Riveter”

11. A Return to Traditional RolesA Return to Traditional Roles
Following World War IIFollowing World War II
•After the war, there was a return to
traditional gender roles
•Men returned to the workplace and
women were fired or returned to
previous low-paying positions
•Women were expected to resume their
previous role of raising children and
keeping house
•However, the path had been paved for
women to work outside the home

12. The Women’s Movement:The Women’s Movement:
1960’s – 1970’s1960’s – 1970’s
A New Era BeginsA New Era Begins

13. The Women’s MovementThe Women’s Movement
•Women’s contribution to factories during WWII had
shown American women that they were capable of more
than just keeping house and raising children
•In the 1960’s and 70’s, a series of social changes
occurred that allowed U.S. woman to pursue greater
educational and professional opportunities than ever
before

14. Birth Control Leads to Greater Social FreedomBirth Control Leads to Greater Social Freedom
•With the advent of the birth control
pill in 1960, women gained more
control over their bodies
•For the first time, women could
choose whether to reproduce and
decide how many children to have
•Women gained greater social
freedom and potential to enter the
workplace

15. ““The Feminine Mystique”The Feminine Mystique”
•Betty Friedan’s 1963 book The
Feminine Mystique attacked the
commonly held belief that women
could only find fulfillment through
keeping house and raising children.
•Friedan taught American women that
they had more options besides being a
housewife

16. Women in Popular Culture: Mary Tyler MooreWomen in Popular Culture: Mary Tyler Moore
•In the 1950’s, Mary Tyler
Moore starred in The Dick
Van Dyke Show as Laura
Petrie, a housewife
•In the 1970’s, she played
single career women Mary
Richards on The Mary Tyler
Moore Show
•Mary Richards became a
feminist icon representing
the growing role of women
in the workforce
Dick Van DykeDick Van Dyke
1961-19661961-1966
Mary Tyler MooreMary Tyler Moore
1970-19771970-1977

17. The Glass CeilingThe Glass Ceiling
•The term "glass ceiling" refers to
invisible barriers that impede the
career advancement of women.
•Due to sexism, women reach a point
at which they stop getting promoted.

18. The Glass CeilingThe Glass Ceiling

19. Wage GapWage Gap
•The
•In 2004, women's wages in the U.S.
were 76.5% of men's wages.

20.  Women's pay (relative to men's) roseWomen's pay (relative to men's) rose
rapidly from 1980 to 1990 (from 60.2% torapidly from 1980 to 1990 (from 60.2% to
71.6%), and has risen less rapidly from71.6%), and has risen less rapidly from
1990 to 2004 (from 71.6% to 76.5%).1990 to 2004 (from 71.6% to 76.5%).

21. Wage GapWage Gap

22. Women and EducationWomen and Education

23. Discrimination in the WorkplaceDiscrimination in the Workplace

24. Discrimination in the WorkplaceDiscrimination in the Workplace

25. Challenges and ObstaclesChallenges and Obstacles
Problems Faced byProblems Faced by
Women in the WorkforceWomen in the Workforce

26. Confronting Sexual HarassmentConfronting Sexual Harassment
in the Workplacein the Workplace

27. Confronting WorkplaceConfronting Workplace
Sexual HarassmentSexual Harassment

28. Balancing Career and FamilyBalancing Career and Family

29. Challenges Faced by Working WomenChallenges Faced by Working Women

30. Affirmative ActionAffirmative Action

31. Women Enter Non-TraditionalWomen Enter Non-Traditional
CareersCareers

32. Women in Positions of PowerWomen in Positions of Power
Katie Couric interviewing Condoleezza RiceKatie Couric interviewing Condoleezza Rice

33. Powerful Women in the U.S.Powerful Women in the U.S.
Condoleezza RiceCondoleezza Rice
Secretary of StateSecretary of State
•First black woman to serve
as Secretary of State
•Pioneered a policy of
“Transformational
Diplomacy”
•Professor of Political
Science at Stanford
University

34. Powerful Women in the U.S.Powerful Women in the U.S.
Oprah WinfreyOprah Winfrey
Talk Show Host/ Media MogulTalk Show Host/ Media Mogul
•Host of The Oprah Winfrey
Show, the highest-rated talk
show in television history
•Also an actress,
philanthropist, book critic,
and magazine publisher
•Some consider her the most
influential woman in the
world

35. Powerful Women in the U.S.Powerful Women in the U.S.
Hillary ClintonHillary Clinton
Senator/ PresidentialSenator/ Presidential
CandidateCandidate
•Served as First Lady of the U.S.
from 1993 to 2001
•Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000,
marking the first time a U.S. First
Lady ran for public office
•Currently a candidate for the
democratic nomination in the 2008
presidential election

36. Powerful Women in the U.S.Powerful Women in the U.S.
Julia RobertsJulia Roberts
World’s Highest-Paid ActressWorld’s Highest-Paid Actress
Katie CouricKatie Couric
JournalistJournalist