Traditionally, women have primarily been the employees of their own home. For centuries, it was the men who worked jobs to make money and the women who remained at home to raise the children and fulfill the household duties. Over time, some women have stood out among the crowd and have made themselves distinct due to extraordinary things they’ve accomplished through exhaustive efforts, but they were unique- it was not the norm. The waves of feminism, though, allowed for the introduction of women entering the workforce in large numbers, but this trend was in no way exclusively occurring in the United States. Around the world, as feminism became a stronger driving force and often due to looming economic pressures, women became united and fortified and became more involved and accepted in work and activities outside the home.
Americans and the members of other Western countries are accused of being ethnocentric by assuming that the increase of women in the workplace is unique to them and their countries; but in reality, this is not true. In Africa, where what is called Third-World feminism became a phenomenon, women were slowly becoming more involved in activities and jobs outside their traditional roles of mothers and housewives. These women consider themselves to have always been involved in feminism and in branching out their positions and responsibilities. In fact, social structures have been adapted during the past few decades, namely in the realms of housing, health, and education, to allow room for women to assume new functions. Changes in education are allowing for women who may previously have not attended school, to be educated in the ways that are necessary for them to contribute effectively in their jobs.
The countries of Latin America have often been lumped together with the other Third-World countries in terms of economics and politics, and therefore women in these countries have traditionally been subjugated. Although there have been exceptional women who have stood out and made a difference in their lives, including Luisa Capetillo, the rise of feminism and soon of women becoming more involved members of society, started in the early 1900’s. Before this wave, women were largely oppressed under the patriarchal societies in which they lived. They had limited, if any, access to social programs such as resources of education, and positions and participation in politics. The historical feelings of masculine dominance that these Latin American countries had, had a strong impact on women, and those few women who did have jobs were largely discriminated against. They experienced an imbalanced division of labor and struggled to overcome these challenges to be able to eventually enter the workforce as equals and as respected contributors. Eventually, in the 1980’s and 1990’s, different organizations were forming and the strong forces of feminism were allowing women to fight together against economic discrimination, sexism, political repression, and other inequalities. As these women became more forceful and as they had small successes, they were slowly becoming more involved in the workforce and slowly acquired more jobs outside the home.
Europe had its own waves of feminism that led to different countries allowing and enabling more women to become an integral part of the workplace. Poland, for example, began experiencing feminism as early as 1800, and although women did not necessarily get jobs and leave their traditional functions right away, the groundwork was being laid for the future. Feminism was considered to have seven waves, different stages over time from 1800 until the present. Initially, women, and men in less frequency, were writing about the ideas of promoting women to other jobs and allowing them to play more active roles in society. Articles, books, and other sources of media were promulgated, allowing people to become more comfortable and accepting of the idea. However, with the rise of Communism after the conclusion of World War II came a rise in women entering the workforce and having more equality with men. This sixth-wave of Polish feminism brought with it the strong advocacy of women in the workplace, equality with men, and women’s participation, in large numbers, in areas such as farming and industry production. Obviously, the fact that Communism was the force that allowed or compelled women to start working outside the home made this sense of equality be very different from that of the Western world. During this time feminism was smothered and kept in check by the Communists, but there is no denying that there was a greater level of equality for men and women.
The United Kingdom began its change of dynamics in the 19th century. Revisionism, the period of adjustment whereby society began to change its fundamental structures, brought with it the concept that minorities including women should become more involved and integral in society. It was during this movement that feminism began strongly rearing its head, under the guidance of several important women including Emmeline Pankhurst and other such activists. Mary Wollstonecraft so aptly wrote, “Such deeply rooted prejudices have clouded reason” (91). Whereas the Victorian woman was previously touted as the proper woman, it was now becoming more acceptable for women to become more active, more involved, and more integral in society taking upon themselves positions outside the home. Women needed to be more than domestic servants. World War I was closely related to the influx of women in the workforce as well as in women being hired for jobs that were normally performed by men. Because many of the men were involved in the actual fighting, there was a deficit of workers on the home-front to get involved in the industrial production that was so badly needed. Out of desperation, perhaps, but also because it was becoming more accepted that women can perform jobs that men used to do, women were hired in great numbers to become employees of industries and departments from which they were previously shunned.
In America, feminism and women in the workforce were, as is to be expected, not always accepted as they are today. Partially due to the religious beliefs of those who first came to America from Europe, women were domestic creatures and were expected to be subservient to their husbands. They had no ownerships rights to property, were not allowed to sue, and were not given jobs outside the home. After the American Revolution, the concept of independence and equal rights brought some changes of the dynamics between men and women, including the concept of a marriage based on love rather than on submission and deference, but there was a long way to go before women were accepted into the work force. Abigail Adams pleaded with her husband to allow women to have opportunities outside of the home. “I desire you would remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands.” Over time, different changes in society led to changing opinions of women, including a great surge of feminism and the rise of many activists. It was felt that “women should be free to define themselves- instead of having their identity defined for them… by their culture and their men” (Schneir 468). During the Great Depression as well as World War II, as had happened during war time in England, the country was desperate for workers and therefore women were hired in great numbers to help in the war effort. However, after the war ended, women were not necessarily guaranteed the jobs they previously held and many of them were relegated to lower jobs or were released altogether. Those women who did maintain the jobs that used to be performed by men were not paid the same wages as the men had received. But once women were introduced into the workforce, the circumstances were changed and there were much greater opportunities for women than in the past.
It is clear that women’s roles have changed over time largely due to feminism but also due to economic pressures, although how much and to what extent is not always as obvious. Throughout the world it was predominantly assumed that the role of the woman is to stay home and raise their children. This practice has been done for thousands of years, and although some women distinguished themselves and acted outside the social norms, the majority of women still remained subservient and domestic. There may always have been the sentiment that women felt qualified to do more than what was expected of them but because it is difficult to resist the trends and the traditions in society, these feelings may have been muted or dampened into submission. Over time, the passing of centuries always brings with it different movements, transformations, and revolutions that create an atmosphere allowing for modifications to take place and to hopefully remain. Additionally, wars and periods of economic difficulties also allowed for changes. It is during these and other times, that feminism and its ideas of equality for women grew in strength and determination, allowing for the transition of women from the home-place to the work-place to take root. However, just because women began taking on new roles does not mean that they were completely accepted and were given equal opportunities as men. Even today there are situations where women performing the exact duties as men are paid less. Has the transformation of women into the workplace changed over time? Obviously, but has the transformation been completed with women given equal status as men? The answer has to be no because there are still cases of discrimination and preferential treatment for men.
