Women Joining Labor Unions - Research Paper Example

Women Joining Labour Union Even before United States entered World War, several companies within the States had contracts to produce and supply war equipment for the Allies. America entered the war almost overnight, resulting in dramatic increase of war production in short span of time. New factories were built, already existing auto industries were converted in order to build airplanes and shipyards were expanded to increase the capacity. Initially, companies had no idea that there could be a shortage of worker and therefore did not consider the idea of women working. But eventually women were needed to work in the factories as the men were leaving the country to participate in war and the companies were signing profitable contracts with the government to supply weapons. Idea of working was not at all new to women. The lower- class and minority women had always worked. However, there was a culture of white middle-class men in the workforce and women stayed home. People of America were against the idea of women working due to high unemployment rate during the Depression years. Also, because of high unemployment during the Depression, most people were against women working because they saw it as women taking jobs from unemployed men. These ideas were challenged as America entered the war. There was a great need for labours to meet the growing demand for the war equipment. They agreed to let women work in the factories on temporary basis. United States Government faced more problems when it was time to recruit women in to the labour force. The women’s respond to the call for work was not satisfactory. It was then that government decided to instigate a propaganda movement to sell the significance of women efforts for war to entice them into working. A fictional character of “Rosie the Riveter” was promoted as an ideal woman worker who was efficient, loyal and patriotic. A song was also composed by the name, “Rosie the Riveter”, which became very popular. Eventually there were many “Rosies” playing there parts in the war and assisting the country in every way they could. (Beaton) Initially, the main influence for women to work was patriotism but in the end, economic incentives convinced ht e women to work. Once they started working work, they also discovered the non-monetary benefits of working such as proving themselves in workplaces that were once reserved for men only, learning new skills, and also contributing to the public good. The biggest problem, when women started working at traditionally male jobs, was changing attitudes of men towards them. Even though the women labour was much needed, male workers and male-dominated unions were doubtful of the opposite sex. Companies often saw desires and needs of women on the job as less important to men’s, therefore did not take them seriously and not even gave them much attention. Also, women were denied positions of power by the employers who excluded then from decision making activities of the factories. On the other hand women also wanted full realization of their rights and treated like the male workforce without any bias just for the reason that they were women. Even though during the war the image of woman as worker was important, but the pre-war image of the ladies as mothers and wives was by no means forgotten. The society had accepted short-term changes due to the war, but such changes were considered undesirable and were not acceptable on permanent basis. As soon as the war was finished, the public reminded that the greatest asset of a woman was her capability of taking care of her home and her career would not help her in finding a husband. During the wartime, working women not only were visible, but also gained superiority over their housewife counterpart. When there was a need of women in the workforce, there were campaigns and magazine propagandas which portrayed attractive images of women in the workforce. But as the war came to an end, the working women concept ceased to exist and instead was replaced by women as brides in almost every magazine. Subsequent to the war, the pre-war cultural discrimination of labour by sex reasserted itself. Most of the women labour were laid off and send them back to their homes. While the women who remained in the workforce, were once again forced into lower wage jobs. However, even after this injustice the road taken by women during World War II in the work, continued into the future. Although majority of the society wanted women to redeem their pre-war roles but the daughters and grand-daughters of Rosie continued to work. Women had confirmed during the war time that they could do the jobs previously done only by men. The immediate post-war reaction was quite negative but within a few decades, women workforce was a common sight. However, the bias behaviour prevailed even after the percentage of women workforce was increasing. There was a prominent difference between average pay rates of males and females. The discrimination was not limited to pay checks only. To eliminate these differences certain laws were passed in order to provide considerable protection from the workplace misbehaviour by employers or co-workers for women employees from. The laws state clearly that dealing on the job, including promotions, hiring and firing ought to be based on merit and qualifications and not on gender, age, race, sexual preference, etc. Despite the existing policies and laws enacted to protect woman dignity, many female labours continue to undergo employment discrimination and workplace harassment. With time women were allowed to join in the labour unions. Women who joined labour unions enjoyed better working conditions such as pension, better pays, and insurance benefits. Albeit this, women were less likely to join labour unions than men. Some of the women consider themselves to be temporary members of the workforce, their incomes usually are secondary incomes in the family, and they might also feel that even when in unions, they are discriminated with respect to fair representation and equal pay. (Sutton, 371-391) On the other hand, women who were aware of their rights, fought for better work conditions and equal facilities. Working class women joined hands with middle class women to raise their voice for improved worked conditions and increase in wages. Discrimination on basis of gender and race were barred and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was formed in 1964. In 1966, a feminists group established National Organization for Women, which made efforts to protect rights of the working women. A year later EEOC passed laws to ensure that women were given equal employment opportunities as male workers. (Women's Labour History Timeline) Coalition of Labour Union Women was found in 1974. It had four goals: amplify women's participation in unions; systematize the unorganized; encourage positive action; and increase involvement of women in political and legislative activities. The women were working in almost every part of United States, in every type of industry. Regardless of their occupational, industrial and geographical differences, women all over had same concerns. The primary purpose of Coalition was to unite all the women working in organization to recognize their common concerns to develop action programs. (CLUW Convention) There were other movements and programs as well with objectives to fight for the women’s right at the work place. Such activities were held to empower the working women in the unions and encouraging them to make a difference on the job. There were organizations with aim to amplify the voice of mistreated women workforce. The outcome of such activities is positive. The working conditions for women have improved greatly as compared to the post world war II. Works Cited Beaton, L., “The importance of women’s paid labour: Women at work in World War II”, Worth Her Salt. Women at Work 1982, Web. 12 Oct. 2011, http://www.marxists.org/subject/women/authors/beaton/world-war-two.htm CLUW Convention, “Coalition of Labour Union Women”, 2011, Web. 12 Oct. 2011, http://www.cluw.org/ Sutton, J., R., “Some Determinants of Women's Trade Union Membership”, The Pacific Sociological Review, 23.4 (Oct., 1980). 377-391, Web. 12 Oct. 2011, http://www.jstor.org/stable/1388731?seq=2 Women's Labour History Timeline, Advancing Excellence, 2009, Web. 13Oct. 2011, http://www.nysut.org/newyorkteacher_12304.htm Read More