When the recession began it took away many jobs, especially in construction and manufacturing, which has a mainly male workforce. Thus, the recession was named the "mancession." However, research is now showing that in our slowly moving economy men are finding more jobs than women. Women lost one in three jobs cuts between December 2007 and December 2009, but have gained back only 1 in 10 that were added in 2010. One reason for this may be the cuts in governmental jobs because women make up more than half of that sector of the work force. In the next year more cuts are expected to be made in governmental jobs, causing the problem to only continue to get worse. Although, in general women have a lower unemployment rate than men, but the gap is becoming smaller. As mens' unemployment decreases, womens' are increasing. Middle-aged women are especially feeling the pain. Once losing their job, it become only more and more difficult to find another one because when it comes between a 50-something year old women and a 30 year old male, in most cases the 30 year old male is chosen for the job, whether that be right or wrong. For women 16 and over it is taking an average of 24.3 weeks to find a new job, while for men its only 20.7 weeks. Then for 55-64 year old women it is taking an average of 39.1 weeks to find a job, while this time men the same age it's 29.6 weeks. Even though women lost fewer jobs in the recession, they have also had to suffer with other workplace problems such as low wages with few benefits. To put a number on it, women make 80 cents for every dollar a man earns. For both men and women, the recession has hit hard, but now the difference is that men are beginning to find work again and women are not having as much success.
Living in a small town, I haven't seen huge effects of the recession in my community. There have been some, but nothing drastic. I was surprised to read that originally more men were losing their jobs, and now while they are gaining them back women still are not. It's very strange to me how one gender can be doing better in the job market than another because that seems a bit backwards to me. Aren't women suppose to have just as many rights and priviledges as men in our world today? The fact that women make only 80 cents to every mans' dollar also upsets me. Why can't women make a dollar for every dollar a man makes? I am a young woman who will be entering the work force in a few years and I think that is extremely unjust. Obviously, there is still some instituition discrimination going on in our country in regards to not only different races, but different genders as well. For centuries women were thought of as less and their only role in life was to marry, have children, raise those children, cook, and clean. I agree that most often women are the primary caretakers of their children and have a more caring and "emotional" side, but that does not mean we can't do anything men can or that men can't do anything women can. Black or white, old or young, gay or straight, man or woman, I think an employer should look at a person's qualifications, experience, and achievements before anything else. The trivial things should not matter--at all. And as for women having a hard time finding jobs right now, I do think that makes sense. If men were the first to lose their jobs, then it's logical that they would be first to get them back. If women lost them a little later, then they will probably recover theirs a little later. I hope these predictions are true so that our economy can truely get "back on its feet" and I also hope that women can in the very near future be treated with the exact same rights as men--including equal pay for equal jobs.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41076700/ns/business-eye_on_the_economy/
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