The Changing Role of Women: Increased Employment (DP IB History: SL): Revision Note

Summary

• The 1960s and 1970s saw a significant rise in female employment in the United States, which became a key factor in the emergence of second-wave feminism

• By 1970, approximately 43% of women were in the workforce, compared to about 30% in 1950, demonstrating a clear long-term shift in women’s roles

• This increase was especially among married and middle-class women, reflecting changing social and economic conditions such as rising living costs and expanded access to education

• As more women worked outside the home, traditional expectations that women should remain full-time homemakers were increasingly challenged

Greater participation in the workforce

Clerical work

• A large proportion of employed women worked in clerical roles such as secretaries, typists, and receptionists

  • These were considered suitable “female” jobs

• By 1970, over 70% of clerical workers were women

  • This shows strong gender concentration in this sector

• A woman working as a secretary in a corporate office would often manage schedules and correspondence for male executives but would have little authority or opportunity for promotion

Teaching

• Teaching, particularly at elementary and secondary levels, was another major profession for women

  • It was in line with the traditional ideas of women as caregivers

• Although women dominated classroom teaching, men were far more likely to hold senior positions such as principals or administrators

Nursing

• Nursing was a common career for women

  • Like teaching, it was viewed as an extension of domestic caregiving roles

• Women made up the majority of nurses in hospitals

  • Higher-status and better-paid roles, such as doctors and surgeons, remained male-dominated

• For example, a woman could work as a registered nurse but would face significant barriers if she attempted to enter medical school or become a senior consultant

How increased employment affected independence

Economic independence

• Paid employment allowed women to earn their own income

  • This reduced their financial dependence on husbands or fathers

• This increased independence enabled women to participate more actively in financial decision-making within the household

Changing family roles

• Employment contributed to shifts in family patterns, including later marriage and smaller family sizes

• Women increasingly viewed themselves as individuals with personal ambitions, rather than being defined solely by their roles as wives and mothers

Increased awareness of inequality

• Workplace experiences exposed women to discrimination, making inequalities more visible and harder to ignore

• Women became aware that they were often paid less than men and had fewer opportunities for advancement

Historiography
Susan Ware

American Women Since 1945 (1986)

• Ware argued that by the 1970s, women’s employment had become normalised in American life, although discrimination in pay and promotion remained widespread.

• She emphasised that feminist activism helped turn workforce participation into a political issue.

How did this independence lead to the feminist movement?

• Increased employment played a crucial role in the development of feminist activism by highlighting systemic inequalities in the workplace

• Women’s shared experiences of discrimination helped to create a collective identity and a sense of injustice

• Many women became involved in activist organisations such as the National Organization for Women

  • This organisation campaigned for equal opportunities and an end to workplace discrimination

• Feminists pushed for legal reforms, including equal pay and anti-discrimination laws, using protests, lobbying, and court cases

What barriers remained?

Wage gap

• Women in the 1960s typically earned around 60% of men’s wages

  • This demonstrated a significant and persistent pay gap

• Even full-time working women remained financially disadvantaged compared to men

Limited career progression (glass ceiling)

• Although women entered the workforce in greater numbers, they faced significant barriers to promotion into senior roles

• This “glass ceiling” prevented women from advancing beyond lower- and mid-level positions

• For example, women dominated teaching roles but were rarely promoted to become principals, while men advanced more easily

Lack of women in positions of power

• Women were significantly underrepresented in leadership roles in business, government, and education

• Decision-making positions remained overwhelmingly male-dominated, limiting women’s influence over policy and workplace practices

Occupational segregation

• Employment remained strongly divided along gender lines, with women concentrated in lower-paid, lower-status jobs

• Professions such as law, engineering, and senior medical roles were dominated by men, while women were concentrated in teaching, nursing, and clerical work

• This reinforced traditional gender stereotypes and limited women’s opportunities for advancement