Women and Flexibility in the Workplace - Assignment Example

Download file to see previous pages... She digs with acute intelligence into this issue stressing that flexibility of women in the workplace is a social issue because it is a highly arduous task for working mothers to handle work and families at the same time and maintaining a balance. Not being able to maintain a good balance between family and workplace responsibilities has serious social repercussions which makes flexibility of women in the workplace a momentous social issue. The nature of American workforce in contemporary world is staggeringly different from that a few decades ago as over 80% of American couples presently are dual earner couples (Christensen, cited in Heffner, 2005). If the framework of most workplaces is objectively scrutinized, it becomes clear that the environment actually better suits the requirements of men and women’s needs are left unacknowledged. For working mothers, the value of workplace flexibility cannot be stressed enough because such an exciting talent strategy can potentially help in advancing the best interests of the society. Without such measures, working women would not be left with any good opportunity to spend quality time with their families and cater to their children’s needs. Even if working mothers do not have to compromise on the time they devote for their families, they still pay a big price by not getting enough sleep which is important for good professional performance. Not enough supervision of children by mothers especially can be threatening for the stability of a society which explains why a bureaucratic and highly rigid workplace with a patriarchal makeup can be devastating for safe functioning of couples and families, and hence for society at large. Identify some factors that have affected women’s flexibility in the workplace throughout history. Myriad factors together have influenced women’s flexibility in the workplace within the context of America. These factors can be put together to construct a storyline which began in the 1930s. That was the time when according to Christensen, the American society witnessed a major transformation in reference to the employment law and workplace structure. Many important major players were actively involved in this change process which has been affecting women’s flexibility for some years now. These key players included a conscientious president who encouraged a positive change in social patterns and did not side with bigoted dominant male groups to curb the needs of working women. Then, there were giant leaps in development of unions to sufficiently represent certain disadvantaged groups in society and highlight infringements on women’s requirements. Other than political forces, there have also been other factors throughout history like a clear need among the workforce to demand flexibility in working hours from their employers. Women are clearly important organizers of their families’ social life and overworked female workers did not feel good about having to make multiple sacrifices and risk the strength of their families. The psychology of the American workforce went through a transition and this led to the development of the Fair Labor Standards Act in the late 30s (cited in Heffner, 2005). Such laws and regulation coupled with incredibly powerful efforts put forward by unions and workforce have made women’s flexibility in the workplace possible today at least on some levels. Evaluate the factors that have affected women’s pay in the workforce. The pay gap between male and female workers has not been eliminated even in the modern US and staggering differences are noticed nationwide. Most important are gender-based factors which have affected wom ...Download file to see next pagesRead More