By Stephanie Colangelo – We are living in history. The United States is in the greatest economic depression since the 1930s. As the unemployment rate skyrocketed to 8.1% this past February, more families are becoming dependent on their wives or mothers to keep their family afloat.
Throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s female unemployment was significantly greater compared to males. It is an age old image for males to be the primary income, the bread winner. Women’s roles were to be the care provider of the household and the children.
It is clear in our culture today that this trend has changed. One of the main reasons is that more women have a higher education.
According to the New York Times, women are more likely to receive a bachelor’s degree than men. Succeeding in school, such as getting a high G.P.A., is more important. Also, women are more likely to complete their degrees on time.
Not only do men need to compete with women in the classroom, but now they need to compete for jobs. Women have a strong desire to put their education to work just like their male counterpart.
But it is not only women who think this way. In a recent study, 60% of men and women believe that the idea of men bringing home the money and women staying home has passed.
However, now that women are “equal” in the working world, it is the men that are being singled out. In major companies, 82% of layoffs were men. This raises the question, why?
Women are paid 50% less than men, who are driven by money. According 76% of men, it is their motivation. They are always looking for ways to receive a raise or promotion. Women, on the other hand, seek fulfillment and flexibility in their job.
What would be an employers’ reason to keep a male employee, who is always chasing dollars signs, when he/she could pay a woman less to do the same job?
In the book Why Men Earn More, by Warren Farell, women who are free of responsibilities to husbands and children earn 117% of what men do. It is a female’s desire for a family that inhibits her opportunities for expansion in the workplace.
But roles are reversing. Men are becoming the stay at home dad, while their wives take on corporate America. However, this doesn’t sit well with them.
Loss of a job hurts the male ego. They are defined by their accomplishments, and when those are lost, their sense of self goes with it.
They’ve had their time to shine. It’s time for the women to take over.
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