Historically the role of women was perceived or restricted to be that of a wife, a mother and a home maker. The traditional barriers set by the society ensured the female population with the docile roles in their lifestyles.
The typical attitude adopted towards women suggests that the women are capable only of performing “woman work”. This belief also contributed to the obstruction of the development of the women section of the society.
Equality laws and campaigns have brought forth more opportunities and professions for women in order to build their career, identity and also to gain independence in today’s world. The cultural, social and economic development over the past few decades have given women better opportunities to enter the male dominated workplace, which had once been exclusively occupied by their male counterparts.
Situation a few decades ago:
In the past, employers have categorised women as not being capable of performing the “male tasks” and hence exhibiting less commitments to their jobs in a male dominated workplace.
Thus assignment of jobs and positions to women were based on segregation and stratification at the workplaces. This segregation of professions stemmed from the males desire to preserve and maintain the high paying jobs and positions to themselves.
Undoubtedly women possess a lot of skills, talents and a quality to bring the right mix to the working environment has now been globally recognised. Women quite simply have found latitudes to choose their professions and excel at them in spite of working in a male dominated workplace.
Problems faced at workplace:
Working women have to consider her options well before deciding upon her professional career and the workplace she chooses to work in. Some of the guidelines mentioned are:
• To ensure that women are valued and are recognised and promoted for their hard work in a male dominated workplace.
• Check for options like flexible hours, maternity leave, health and safety issues.
• Issues that collide with career prospects.
• Equal opportunities of growth and development for everyone.
• Good management, healthy workplace atmosphere, cleanliness and co-worker harmony.
Some of the other hindrances women encounters in a male dominated workplace include problems like discrimination against older women, sexual harassment, discrimination against colour of women and their profession etc.
Current scenario:
These days the women’s problems in a male dominated workplace have been largely resolved. Corporations have tried and equalised the playing fields between both the genders and have made policies for reserving quotas for both the males and female employees. Thus the old stereotypes about women performing “men’s tasks” are fast disappearing.
Conclusion:
Today women’s involvement and success in workplaces is no longer a myth, it’s a fact. Women are leaving no stone unturned to gain equal opportunities as their counterparts in a male dominated workplace.
Their commitments and success towards their profession is earning them respect worldwide. Believe it or not women these days are holding a greater proportion of “blue collar positions” whether in physical labour or in trade.
