Feminism is concerned with the effort to overcome the oppressive traditions of patriarchy. One of the major goals of feminism is for women to achieve equality with men. This has included an emphasis on employment issues. In order for women to have the same rights as men, they need to have equal access to jobs and equal pay. This paper will discuss the reasons why women's employment is a major aspect of most feminist programs. The discussion will include a consideration of the factors that complicate equalization in the area of employment.
Women need to have equal access to jobs so that they can have the same opportunities in life that men have. When women are denied access to good-paying jobs, they are "excluded from the crucial resources that would enable them to better their circumstances and to wield more power within their family and community" (Miles 281). In addition, inequalities in the job market are a reflection of gender discrimination in society as a whole (Hunter College 405). The feminist movement is highly concerned with the need to overcome this kind of discrimination. Inequalities in employment are a major cause of the ongoing oppression of women. In this regard, it has been claimed that "the economic inequality between women and men has contributed to a widely held stereotype of women as dependent" (Hunter College 377). Women cannot achieve equality with men as long as they are seen as being economically dependent on men. Women's employment is also important because of the role it plays in improving the overall quality of life. With this view in mind, "the current women's movement has demanded recognition of a woman's right to engage in useful, meaningful, and rewarding work" (Hunter College 406).
Feminists are concerned not only with women's access to jobs but also with the right of women to receive equal pay. In most cases, a woman worker "will be getting only three-quarters of what her male equ...