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Even as late as the 1970s, it was not uncommon for women to automatically get fired once they got married. Some jobs, like secretary, nurse or teacher, were dee

by mcv 3y ago

Even as late as the 1970s, it was not uncommon for women to automatically get fired once they got married. Some jobs, like secretary, nurse or teacher, were deemed suitable for unmarried women, but married women had to stay home, raise kids, and run the household. This left a lot of highly capable women outside the workforce. A company specifically created to hire those women was a brilliant idea.

Amezarak 3y ago
In the US the labor force participation rate in 1975 for women was 45%; today it is 57%. Was it really that much worse in the UK?
- kragen 3y ago
  that 45% was to a significant extent poor women doing unskilled labor: maids, factory workers, cooks. not office workers however, shirley did not found her company 'freelance programmers' in 01975 she founded it in 01959 the ensuing 20 years were among the most successful years in history for feminism in the usa and uk, marked by, among other things, rapidly growing female participation in the labor force
  - Amezarak 3y ago
    Even in 1959, the US labor force participation rate for women was 37%. So since that time, there’s only been about a twenty point increase. Most people were poor, and married, and with children, so that would make sense if the real issue was underrepresentation in some upper class jobs.
    - kragen 3y ago
      if you were a computer programmer, high school teacher, or secretary before you got married, it might be the case that the only jobs open to you after marriage were factory worker and maid, both involving a substantial risk of sexual abuse and resulting marital rupture. even as a programmer, shirley reported experiencing 'being fondled, being pushed against the wall' also, if you had a baby, usually you got fired because you couldn't come to work for months or even years (unless you could afford a nanny), and then you had to start your career again from the beginning at a new job underrepresentation in upper-class jobs was a real issue, but far from the only one

by mcv 3y ago

Amezarak 3y ago

In the US the labor force participation rate in 1975 for women was 45%; today it is 57%. Was it really that much worse in the UK?

kragen 3y ago
that 45% was to a significant extent poor women doing unskilled labor: maids, factory workers, cooks. not office workers however, shirley did not found her company 'freelance programmers' in 01975 she founded it in 01959 the ensuing 20 years were among the most successful years in history for feminism in the usa and uk, marked by, among other things, rapidly growing female participation in the labor force
- Amezarak 3y ago
  Even in 1959, the US labor force participation rate for women was 37%. So since that time, there’s only been about a twenty point increase. Most people were poor, and married, and with children, so that would make sense if the real issue was underrepresentation in some upper class jobs.
  - kragen 3y ago
    if you were a computer programmer, high school teacher, or secretary before you got married, it might be the case that the only jobs open to you after marriage were factory worker and maid, both involving a substantial risk of sexual abuse and resulting marital rupture. even as a programmer, shirley reported experiencing 'being fondled, being pushed against the wall' also, if you had a baby, usually you got fired because you couldn't come to work for months or even years (unless you could afford a nanny), and then you had to start your career again from the beginning at a new job underrepresentation in upper-class jobs was a real issue, but far from the only one