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Feb. 28, 2005 Over the past decade, there have been ever-growing attempts to obtain equal opportunity for every one in the workplace. At the United Nations (UN), for example, there is an Office of Human Resource Management that is entrusted with ensuring that all UN employees through-out the world are treated equitably. This is a challenge, given that the agency has employees, in almost 200 countries, and some of these nations have cultures that are openly hostile to such ideas, as equal pay for equal work and the appointment of women into senior Management Positions. In a recent Wall Street Journal/NBC News special survey on women in the workplace, more than 80 percent of Americans (and an even higher percentage of men) said that women in organizations had made considerable progress over the past generation. Moreover, these were held across the board with no pockets of resistance from any particular responding group. At the same time, in this same survey most women reported that they have experienced discrimination and harassment on the job. They also said that progress for women was too slow. In particular, they noted that there is a significant pay gap between men and women, especially at the lower levels of the hierarchy, and that professional women continue to have difficulty gaining entry to the executive suite. In fact, it is reported, there exist only two woman chief executive officers among the Fortune 500 firms today. Another finding from the survey contract to the stereotyped view held by some people is that most women work out of economic necessity. About two thirds of those polled said that they are the primary wage earners in their family or they have to work in order to make ends meet. Only 14 percent of women said they do not have to work, but do so for their own personal satisfaction. However economic necessity was cited overwhelmingly by low-income women. At the same time, there are positive signs in some areas. For example, in the professional schools, in universities such as medicine, law and business, the percentage of women in the graduating classes has been increasing. In 1960 less than 6 percent of medical school graduates were women. By 1980 this had risen to over 23 percent, and today almost 43 of new doctors are women. The percentage of law school graduates has increase even faster. In 1960 women made up less than 3 percent of the graduating class. By 1980 they constituted just over 30 percent, and today approximately 45 percent of all law school graduates are women. The same pattern exists in business schools where in 1960 less than 3 percent of the graduating class consisted of women, but by 1980 this had risen to over 24 percent and today it stand at 39 percent. Despite some positive signs, there is quite a bit more that needs to be done. For example, only 41 percent of women (in contrast to 60 percent of men) report that women are treated professionally in the workplace and although 39 percent of men say that women are getting senior executive promotion, only 23 percent of women agree. Quite clearly, there has been some progress, but there is still a long way to go for organizations to tap the full potential of their entire workforce. ------------ About the author Sapna Anu B. George: A Proactive and Creative Personality, who is able to Conceptualize, Evolve and Develop around a wide range of topics, related to People Profiles, Culture, Art, Theater, Movies and news from the Middle East. Born into an aristocratic family in Kottayam within the State of Kerala, also known as "Gods own country". Utilizing her Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic abilities this upcoming journalist possesses the attitude to approach every intricate topic with the 'End in Mind'." www.swapnam.com Email: sapna_george@hotmail.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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