At different time in its history the United states has seen women begin joining the workforce, usually in times of war. During the American Civil War women started working to fill in for the almost 600,000 casualties suffered during the war. During both world wars women again returned to the workforce. During the second world war women were doing many jobs that were considered mens' jobs. This including making the instruments of war. After the war some women stayed in the workforce. Most of the jobs they were working were as secretaries and clerks. Women eventually began rising in the ranks at work. In 1963 the Equal Pay Act guaranteed that men and women would make the same salary for the same job position. The new influx of women in the workplace was greeted coldly by men. Some held the sexist view that a women could not perform a job as well as a man in the same capacity. There was also the fact that a bigger potential pool of workers meant more competition at employment opportunities. Now women make up half the workforce in the United States. (forbes.com)
While some have said that the battle in the workplace has ended, others think it is still on going. The average women makes only 78.7 cents for ever dollar that a man makes in the same position. This shows that men and women are still not equal in the context of the workplace. (portfolio.com)
