1. GENDER EQUALITY
Factors Affecting Womens Occupational Endeavors
STS 210 Final ProjectAdrianna C. Gray

2. WHY?
Over the course of the semester, we have often spoken the word feminism.I think that each of us have come to form an opinion of how feminism is defined.
For me, feminism is the idea of creating equal opportunities, rights and freedoms across genders, ethnicities and ages.It is more than girl power, it is a mission to make all aspects of life fair regardless of ones appearance and circumstances.
3. WHY?
It is for this reason that I chose to do my project on gender equality in the workplace.More specifically, reasons why women chose certain occupations more frequently caught my interest.
I decided to start out by gathering the opinions of people.How do people feel about gender with regards to occupation?Do they see stereotypes on a regular basis?Have they experienced prejudice in the workplace because of their gender?
I wanted to know.
4. Gender & Occupation Survey
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DJDY5DX
Though the project is complete, the survey is still open.This is a study that will not be complete until all understand how gender and occupation affect one another, and fuel this understanding to create change.
Feel free to participate.
GATHERINGEXPERIMENTAL DATA
5. WHEN I GROW UP
Teacher
Business Owner
Engineer
Dancer
Baker
Astronaut
Athlete
Coach
Doctor
FBI Agent
Lawyer
Veterinarian
Doctor
Mother
6. Challenges in Pursing Childhood Dream Job
Reasons for Not Pursing Childhood Dream Job
SURVEY RESULTS
7. GENDER CONCENTRATIONS
8. How much does it matter?
Cultural norms define the roles we each take in society.
This includes, but is not limited to, our career choices and the reasons for making these decisions.
Stereotypes, prejudices and biases all swarm around the workplace.Most participants felt that stereotypes somewhat impact the gender distribution in their field.
9. Who brings home the bacon?
The greatest, yet most simple challenge our nation faces is the pay gap.
According to the 2010 Census, women only earned 77 cents per dollar their male equals earned.
It saddens me that themajority of survey participants really dont know whether their career of choice offers equal pay across genders.
US Department of Labor
10. How did my experiment measure up to the facts?
Were the stereotypes mentioned by my participants a reflection of Reality?
How did their views on gender & occupation compare to the statistics?
BACK TO REALITY
11. http://careers.cwis-llc.com/careers2/images1/administrative.jpg
In 2009, there were3,074,000 Administrative Assistants and Secretaries.This is the most prevalent occupation among women and the average annual pay was $29,050 in 2008.
The second most held female occupation is Registered Nurse which also happens to be the 19th topsalaried occupation women hold.RNs, on average, made $63,750 in 2009.
12. Top 20 Female Concentrated Occupations
Secretaries & Administrative Assistants
Registered Nurses
Elementary/Middle School Teachers
Cashiers
Nursing, Psychiatric & Home Health Aides
Retail Salesperson
First-line Supervisors/Managers of Retail Sales Workers
Waitresses
Maids & Housekeeping Cleaners
Customer Service Representatives
Child Care Workers
Bookkeeping, Accounting & Auditing Clerks
Receptionists & Information Clerks
First-line Supervisors/Managers of Office & Administrative Support Workers
Managers (all others)
Accountants & Auditors
Teaching Assistants
Cooks
Office Clerks (general)
Personal & Home Care AidesDepartment of Labor- 2009
13. http://www.visualphotos.com/photo/2x3924639/close-up_of_a_female_construction_worker_talking_dki-0073-063.jpg
In 1970, less than one percent of construction workers were women.
In 1995, 25 years later, women are only 2.3% of all US Construction workers.
Participants in my survey stated that construction work is a predominantly male field indeed, the presence of women in this field is almost nonexistent.OSHA
14. http://www.howdoesshe.com/wp-content/uploads/SUZE_ORMAN-MY_JOB_CHART.jpg
Femalesaccounted for 66.6% of financial specialists in the US in 2009.
This includes accountants, financial advisorsand analysts to list a few.
One example of an extremely successful female financial specialist is SuzeOrman.
In my survey, participants listed financial specialists as a stereotypically male field.
US Department of Labor
15. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AR3FNcs6p30/SctqcW9NnKI/AAAAAAAACtk/_lOpuAaZE90/s400/black_pharmacist.jpg
In 2009, the top paid position women held wasas pharmacists.These women earned 85% of the wages their male equals earned.
Unbelievably, this most fair paying position is comprised of less than 50% women.There are 36 times more female administrative assistants than femalepharmacists.
Female physicians only make 59% of their male equals and go to school longer than pharmacists.
Forbes.com
16. ARE STEREOTYPES CHANGING?
Nursing used to be a female occupation. That has changed tremendously in the past decade.
In the past very few women were allowed to attend prestigious culinary schools, however those times are gone and now females as well as males dominate this field. One occupation that I would think is stereotypical for males is construction work; there doesn't seem to be that many women in that field.
Not completely, I am a stay at home mom and I feel that people still look down on some men that choose to let their wives work and they stay home with the children.
I definitely feel they will be less impacted. However I still believe that those gender based tendencies will still make many positions remain lopsided by a gender. Women and Men have natural differences in interest that plays into certain professions.Yes, I do expect future generations to be less impacted by occupational stereotypes. In order to create equality in all work forces, I think it is necessary to emphasize the sameness and ability in all people regardless of gender instead of emphasizing differences.
17. TO TIE IT ALL TOGETHER
How to get involved?
Take the survey.
Visit my website and send the link to others.
Learn about legislation and laws to create a more equal work force across genders.
Wear red on Equal Pay Day, April 12.
Join the National Organization for Women (NOW) or make a donation.
18. RESOURCES
National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE)http://www.pay-equity.org/
Forbes.com Top Paying Jobs for Womenhttp://www.forbes.com/2009/06/25/top-paying-jobs-forbes-woman-careers-salary-employment.html
US Dept of Labor Quick Stats on Women Workers, 2009http://www.dol.gov/wb/stats/main.htm
National Organization for Women (NOW)http://www.now.org/issues/economic/factsheet.html
Women, Science, and Technology(Wyer, M., et. al, 2nd Edition, 2009)
19. RESOURCES
Bureau of Labor Statistics Secretaries & Administrative Assistantshttp://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos151.htm#earnings
Bureau of Labor Statistics Registered Nurses http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291111.htm#nat
US Department of Labor OSHA: Women in the Construction Workplacehttp://www.osha.gov/doc/accsh/haswicformal.html
US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Equal Pay Act of 1963http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/epa.cfm