Michigan State University Extension
Diversity and Pluralism - 02170179
12/95/
ERIC TITLE NUMBER: ED224887 AUTHOR: Piercy, Day; Krieter, Nancy
TITLE: Women at Work: The Myth of Equal Opportunity.
YEAR PUBLISHED: 1982
NOTE: 30 p.
AVAILABILITY: Women Employed Institute, 5 South Wabash,
Suite 415, Chicago, IL 60603 ($4.00).
ABSTRACT: The advances women have made in the past decade
have created the myth that women have achieved equal
opportunity in the job market. In reality, the opposite is
true. The current economic status of women demonstrates the
need for strict enforcement of equal opportunity laws.
Department of Labor data indicate that the wage gap between
men and women is not narrowing. Despite popular concepts to
the contrary, most women are not working to earn extras.
Furthermore, men and women doing the same type of work do
not earn the same pay. Also many believe the myths that
women now have access to all types of jobs, earn less
because they do not stay in the job market, and lack the
education needed to get ahead. Analysis of Department of
Labor statistics also reveals that minority women are still
the victims of double discrimination. Finally, examination
of current unemployment patterns proves that the large
influx of women into the labor force is not responsible for
high unemployment. Rather, current male unemployment rates
are caused by reductions in male-dominated blue collar jobs,
especially in manufacturing and construction. Under the
Reagan administration, new agency policies and regulatory
proposals have seriously undermined equal opportunity
enforcement efforts. If women are ever to achieve equality
at work, the national commitment to equal opportunity must
be reaffirmed. (MN)
KEY DESCRIPTORS: Affirmative-Action; Civil-Rights
Legislation; Day-Care; Employment-Practices; Federal
Legislation; Futures-of-Society; Individual-Needs; Labor
Force; Labor-Legislation; Marital-Status; Minority-Groups;
Needs-Assessment; Public-Policy; Salary-Wage-Differentials;
Trend-Analysis; Unemployment-
KEY DESCRIPTORS: *Employed-Women; *Employment-Patterns;
*Equal-Opportunities-Jobs; *Females-; *Sex-Discrimination
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following ERIC TITLE NUMBER indicates an ERIC document,
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number. If EJ follows ERIC TITLE NUMBER the item is a
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This file was generated from data base DP on 06/25/02.
Data base DP was last revised on 12/95/ .
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