Women have had quite a few hurdles to get over since the 1950 's. In 1958 the proportion of women attending college in comparison with men was 35 percent. (Friedan,
369) Women were supposed to be happy and content at home taking care of her family. In the late 1950 's, many women began to feel they needed more, and so a movement was started.
Women were drawn into the work place in the 1960 's when the economy expanded and rising consumer aspirations fueled the desire of many families for a second income. By 1960, 30.5 percent of all wives worked and the number of women graduating from college grew. (Echols, 400) Women soon found they were being treated differently and paid less then their male co-workers.
In the mid 1970 's, cities began to have women applying for firefighter positions and by the late 1970 's, cities began hiring women as firefighters. This was only a small victory for women. Dealing with the men in a male dominant department would be an even bigger struggle for women. (Seattle)
A sexual harassment survey was conducted in 1995 with 551 women firelighters responded. The survey revealed that 88% of the women had experienced sexual harassment. 73% of the women stated they had been treated differently in negative ways, from their male co-workers. (Sexual Harassment) In 1999, a longer
References: 1. Major Problems in American History Since 1945, The Feminine Mystique, by Betty Friedan. 2. Problems in American History Since 1945, Woman 's Liberation and Sixties / Radicalism, by Alice Echols. 3. Sexual Harassment: Women Firefighters ' Experiences, www.wfsi.org/SHsurvey.html 4. Seattle Municipal Archive Exhibit, Women in City Government, www.ci.seattle.w.a.us/City Archives/Resourses/WomenExhibit.html 5. Racism, http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Racism 6. Affirmative Action And Discrimination What is affirmative act..., www.instant-essays.com/legal_issues/affirmative-action-and-discrimination.shtml