Non-Traditional Employment for Eomen
- Submitted by: pdm67
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- Category: Politics: Economics
- Date Submitted: 12/08/2010 09:37 PM
- Pages: 5
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Non-traditional Employment for Women: Past and Present issues
Purpose: To explore some of the problems and solutions of women seeking and / or working in traditionally male dominated fields.
1. A historical perspective from 100 years ago
In 1918 the U.S. was involved in World War 1 and was in an economically “geared up” phase of producing materials for war. During this same time countries on the front lines were doing the same, if able. In January 1918, Richard Barry spoke with labor leader James Lynch for an article in the New York Times (Barry, 1918). Lynch was very adamant about the adverse effects of using women as “replacement workers” for men who were at war. During this time most counties involved in the frontline fighting or were occupied used vast numbers of women as well as children to supplement the work force, as the percentage of males at war was much higher than the U.S. and was deemed necessary for survival. He cited the number of unemployed men and the detriment to the male workers morale. He goes on to state that because of the number of men out of work that females do not need to work, in doing so it will ”sap the structure of society by rendering women unfit to be mothers”(Barry,1918). The other basis for his argument is more sound but still questionable, it states that it is wrong for women to work for 20 cents an hour, while men doing the same job earn 30 cents. His thoughts were that the companies would fire males to hire females at a lower rate of pay, thus be harmful to society by displacing the male worker. Some of his views could be considered as progressive, but his basis clearly comes from 19th century sexism.
2. The world today
A. The United States
a. New York
During the building boom in New York, in 2005-2008, many new ideas were emerging including a program by N.Y. Mayor Michael Bloomberg to enlist more minorities into trade unions. Most trade unions accepted 10% while the carpenters union set its goal at...
Purpose: To explore some of the problems and solutions of women seeking and / or working in traditionally male dominated fields.
1. A historical perspective from 100 years ago
In 1918 the U.S. was involved in World War 1 and was in an economically “geared up” phase of producing materials for war. During this same time countries on the front lines were doing the same, if able. In January 1918, Richard Barry spoke with labor leader James Lynch for an article in the New York Times (Barry, 1918). Lynch was very adamant about the adverse effects of using women as “replacement workers” for men who were at war. During this time most counties involved in the frontline fighting or were occupied used vast numbers of women as well as children to supplement the work force, as the percentage of males at war was much higher than the U.S. and was deemed necessary for survival. He cited the number of unemployed men and the detriment to the male workers morale. He goes on to state that because of the number of men out of work that females do not need to work, in doing so it will ”sap the structure of society by rendering women unfit to be mothers”(Barry,1918). The other basis for his argument is more sound but still questionable, it states that it is wrong for women to work for 20 cents an hour, while men doing the same job earn 30 cents. His thoughts were that the companies would fire males to hire females at a lower rate of pay, thus be harmful to society by displacing the male worker. Some of his views could be considered as progressive, but his basis clearly comes from 19th century sexism.
2. The world today
A. The United States
a. New York
During the building boom in New York, in 2005-2008, many new ideas were emerging including a program by N.Y. Mayor Michael Bloomberg to enlist more minorities into trade unions. Most trade unions accepted 10% while the carpenters union set its goal at...