Women, Family and Careers

Term Paper # 101378

Business
Women Studies

This paper explores research on the topic of women and gender inequality in the workplace.

1,248 words () | 3 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the conclusions of economic historian, Claudia Goldin, that women have a difficult time in beginning a family and embarking on a career in the business world. The paper looks at M. Ferber and C. Greene's study that determined there were more females that were capable of achieving a family and professional life than had been previously suggested. The paper also examines a study by B. Probert on why women were not in higher levels of organizations. The paper explains the conclusions that the factor of the family affected women in their quest to achieve the highest goals in business and not merely gender inequality.

Outline:
Experimental Design
Case Study
Survey Research

From the Paper:

"Ferber and Greene (2003) discuss the issue of a study conducted by Goldin in which the author suggested that women had a difficult time in "having it all". The term "having it all" referred to the ability to begin a family, while at the same time embark on a career in the business world. The researchers used a literature review experimental design for their work, evaluating the points of Goldin's article. Primarily the researchers determined that the issue of women having careers and families was described by Goldin as being difficult to achieve. Yet, Ferber and Greene (2003) concluded that not only did this conclusion lead women to believe that there was no point in attempting their personal and professional goals, but that it was inaccurate. Ferber and Greene (2003) determined that there was a vast number of women that were capable of achieving both goals, but that they were still unequal members of society."

Sample of Sources Used:

Ferber, M., and Greene, C. (2003). Career or family: What choices do college women have? Journal of Labor Research. 24(1): NO PAGE NUMBERS GIVEN.
Leathwood, C. (2005). Treat me as a human being - don't look at me as a woman: Femininities and professional identities in further education. Gender and Education. 17(4): 387-409.
Probert, B. (2005). I just couldn't fit it in: Gender and unequal outcomes in academic careers. Gender, Work and Organization. 12(1): NO PAGE NUMBERS GIVEN.