Women and Work – The Struggle Continues
Although the gender gap between men and women in society is decreasing, but one area which still needs work is in the workplace. For starters, men still earn more money than women in the same position, and even if both people in a relationship work full-time, the woman is more likely to be responsible for household duties and childcare.
It was once believed that women were happier and felt fulfilled in the home. However, recent research has shown that most women need to experience both pleasure and mastery in their lives to feel happy. Mastery means feeling important and worthwhile, whereas pleasure comes from finding life enjoyable.
A new study found some interesting results when examining women and work, such as the conclusion that having a challenging job and achieving things in life is just as important for women as their relationships and feelings. This study also said that being a housewife with children did not guarantee well-being, and being single and childless is not as negative an experience for women as it is often portrayed.
In other words, women’s lives have to be balanced emotionally and intellectually for them to be happy. No surprise there. But the problem for women, unlike men, is timing.
The point in a women’s life when she could be gaining job skills is usually also the point at which marriage and children are a prospect. While in the modern world women are encouraged to be career-orientated, it sometimes feels unfair that men do not have to choose between work and home. If we were all - men and women - to recognize this struggle and help each other out, life could be easier for many hard-working people.