Equal Pay Act Of 1963

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Life as we know it is always subject to change. At any given moment, at any given place, a spark to initiate change can be provoked. And regardless of whether that change is influenced by a catastrophic event or a revolting protest, it’s bound to cause a paradigm shift in society. For example, consider what World War II and the second wave feminist movement has contributed to the evolution of the image of women in society. More specifically, consider the changes that the Equal Pay Act of 1963 caused the shift from the image “old” woman to “new” woman.” Ultimately, women had embraced the feeling of independence whilst working when men were away at war, and had lost it once men wanted their jobs back. However, the Equal Pay Act of 1963 during …show more content…
According to the United States Department of Labor, today 57% of women participate in the workforces, and 70% of those who our mothers also participate in the workforce. In 1948, three years after the war, only 32% of women participated in the workforce. From 1964 to 1999, the total growth of women in the workforce was a total of 21.7% (U.S. Department,). Looking at the statistics, it’s pretty evident to see that the Equal Pay Act of 1963 had sparked the change for women to get back out there in the workforce. Regardless of whether society had thought that work was for men to provide for the family, women were empowered to fight for their independence and freedom they had felt while working. As time went on, it eventually became more and more socially acceptable for women to work. Eventually, this led to the paradigm shift of the image of the woman in society and the breakage of gender roles in family and …show more content…
Diminishing such roles provides a more positive image for young girls to look up to today. Moreover, women are no longer, or not as often, portrayed as objectified, submissive beings whom must obey their husbands. Rather, women are free to do as they wish, even if a man is doing it as well. With said, women no longer have to make decisions based on the permission of their husbands. Now, women have their own mind, their own voice, and their own plans. Additionally, women’s discrimination in the workforce had decreased. In Winkler’s article, he states, “Since women had less seniority, managers could advance them more slowly and pay them correspondingly less. Moreover, managers continued to classify jobs as "men's" and "women's," with women's jobs paid at lower rates” (Winkler, 2016). For example, during this time, being a lawyer was typically for men only. Because they were portrayed as “dominant” and “smarter” than women, women couldn’t hold such titles if they had decided to go against society’s means and work anyways. Whereas now, both women and men can hold such titles. Today, men and women all over the nation have fair game in competing for a job and to equally provide for the