Empowering Women in the Workforce

Empowering Women in the Workforce
By Ramya Surabi, YE4C Editorial Board Member
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Employment

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Woman waits for train in work attire

A few years from now, my mornings will be completely different. Instead of leggings and a T-shirt, I will be wearing a white coat. Instead of doing homework, I will prepare and present the morning report to my coworkers. Tests won’t be on pieces of paper; they will be real-life case studies that I will need to solve in minutes.  

Until a few years ago, I thought this was what my life would be like. Since I was a little girl, I have dreamed about what life as a doctor would be like. Now I find myself wondering what my life will be like as a public health official.  

Either way, I wonder how I — as a woman — will fit into the workplace and if others will view me as an equal. This is how I became curious about the history and experiences of women in the workplace.  

Women Are Treated Differently  

One famous example of how women are treated differently in the workplace is the story of Anita Summers. When Anita Summers was hired by the Standard Oil Company in 1947, her new boss told her, “I’m glad to have you. I’ve figured I’m getting the same brains for less money.”1 This statement is quite shocking. And yet, at the time, Ms. Summers thought it was a compliment to know her boss believed she had the same brains as a man.  

Few women were in the U.S. workforce in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Few women were also graduating with college degrees. Women were generally not expected to have careers. And when they did work, it was common for women to be placed in low-paying clerical jobs. In fact, until the Equal Pay Act of 1963, employers could legally pay women less than they paid men — even when men and women did the same work. It was very difficult for a woman to succeed in the workplace.  

The United States has made some big strides since the 1950s, but there are still gaps between men and women in the workforce. Women now have access to jobs that used to be just for men.2 Workplaces can now get in trouble for discriminating based on sex.3 And women now fight beside men in the military.4 Yet according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women still earn about 82 cents per dollar compared to men.5  

It Does Not Have to Be This Way  

It is possible for men and women to be treated fairly and have equal opportunities to succeed in the workplace. States can take action to help to level the playing field for everyone in the workforce, regardless of gender. For example, Wisconsin and Louisiana have made it illegal for employers to pay their workers differently based on the sex of the employees. And states like South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and the District of Columbia have all passed similar laws.6  

These laws can have a big impact on individuals, our communities, and our society. They are a step in the right direction, but there’s still a role for you to play.  

You Can Take Action to Fight Gender Discrimination in the Workforce 

You can join the fight for equal opportunity in the workplace.  

  • Be confident. Know your self-worth. Your contributions to the workplace are valuable.  

  • Celebrate your strengths as well as the strengths of your peers — no matter their sex. Taking this step can inspire confidence for you and your co-workers.  

  • Look for the signs of workplace discrimination. Pay attention to:  

    • Patterns of women being overlooked for job opportunities at work.  

    • Behavior or comments that put down women and their contributions at work. 

  • Learn your rights. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) offers this fact sheet to help you learn about your right to be free of discrimination at work. If you believe you have been discriminated against at work because of your sex, file a charge of discrimination with the EEOC.  

  • Read the first-ever U.S. government strategy on gender equity and equality to learn about the plan the White House made in 2021 to close gender gaps in the workforce.  

References 

  1. Sandberg, S. (2013). Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. United States: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.  

  2. National Women's History Alliance. (n.d.). Timeline of Legal History of Women in the United States. Detailed Timeline. Retrieved July 6, 2022, from https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/resources/womens-rights-movement/detailed-timeline/ 

  3. Ibid.

  4. Ibid. 

  5. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021, September 1). Highlights of women's earnings in 2020. BLS Reports. Retrieved July 6, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/opub/reports/womens-earnings/2020/ 

  6. McAnallen, K. (2015). The Current State of Equal Pay Laws. Labor and Employment. Retrieved July 6, 2022, from https://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/the-current-state-of-equal-pay-laws.aspx