Working Women Ascendant--But Ambivalent

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60 minutes did a piece called "The Gender Gap: Boys Lagging" which had several very interesting statistics such as "College campuses are now nearly 60 percent female, with women earning 170,000 more bachelor degrees each year than men."
This is especially stunning when we remember that it was only the 1960's and '70's when the Ivy League went co-ed. Before that there were only men. There are still people in the workforce who were in college then. Imagine what another 10 years will bring.
I am a man but do like the ideas expressed here - work part time, be more able to help with my family - and get enough sleep.

Frank Flynn of CA 10:27PM April 27, 2011

отличный пост, автор пиши ещё

kikus of AL 4:59PM June 12, 2010

I think it's especially interesting that the number of women who prefer full-time work has fallen. In my anecdotal, non-representative experience, women have found their work to be less-fulfilling and more demanding than in the past. I imagine this is also true for men, but it makes it even more difficult for women to achieve a balance between their work and family life. If this is broadly true, I would hardly find it surprising that women want to work less.
To the commenter above, all of Pew's research and methodologies (which always feature random sampling, or as close to random as possible) are publicly available on their website. Their work is some of the highest quality in survey research, because they are one of the few that can still afford to conduct rigorous research.

ottan of NY 2:27PM January 08, 2010

raises some interesting questions. I wonder if our sample is big enough to make some cross tabs -- though I doubt we have a Flintstone question in the topline.

Jodie Allen of DC 11:30AM January 08, 2010

Yep, you will now be able to "earn and cook the bacon". In the meantime, we men can start staying home, taking care of the kids and complain that you don't pay enough attention to us. With the ratio of eligible men to women decreasing everyday in this country, it's just a matter of time before become the sex objects and women the working stiffs. But, of course that was our plan all along.

Atilano Sanchez of TX 3:31AM January 08, 2010

GUESS i'LL HAVE TO READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE SINCE THIS SUMMARY DOESN'T DISCUSS THE DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILES OR POOL OF WOMEN SURVEYED. I MUST WONDER IF THE POOL WAS RANDOMLY SELECTED, AND WHETHER A PERUSAL OF THE SURNAMES MIGHT REVEAL A LIMITED POOL AND SLANT. INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW.

D. Chris Nunez of CA 8:11PM January 07, 2010

"Only a small minority of Americans (19 percent) think women should return to traditional roles"
hmmmm. That's about how many people:
1. self-identify as Republican
2. Think that George W. Bush was a good president
3. Think Saddam was flying one of the planes on 9/11
4. Attended a teaparty this year.
5. Think The Flinstones was a documentary
Conicidence?

JaJa of TX 5:59PM January 07, 2010

Women may predominate in the workforce, but perhaps not in the boardroom. Even so, let's applaud the opportunities we have now that weren't previously available. Part-time or full-time, a trail has been blazed to allow women to pursue careers of choice, instead of being slotted only in a homemaker role.
Now we earn & cook the bacon!

Pat of GA 5:42PM January 07, 2010

I work full time only because the field I'm in does not offer part-time options. I would work 20-30 hours instead of full-time if that was an option. Most of the women I know are of the same mind. The feminist belief that women should pursue the same career goals as men was idealistic and wrongheaded. A large percentage of women my age (mid-40's) have rejected this ideology. We would prefer to stay at home with our young children and re-enter the workforce in some capacity as our children grow. I want a range of options that allows me to balance my work and family life. Unfortunately, my career field dictates full-time work or none at all.

thankfulheart of GA 11:58AM January 07, 2010