(Springfield, MO) — In the 1950?s, statistics show about one in every three women worked. Today more than three out of five women have jobs. But in some areas, there’s still room for improvement. A recent government report found the number of women in management positions has increased by only one percent over the last ten years.
Local women say it’s a trend they hope doesn’t last. Walk into any coffee shop in America, and you’ll find every day people, who have expert opinions about women’s rights. “I can’t recall a woman saying a man got promoted over me, but I often think it’s not always that blatant,” said Jordan Gloyd.
“When I started working there were no women in management and now there are a lot of women in management positions,” said Marge Anderson.
Right now national surveys show women make about twenty cents less per dollar than their male counterparts. And locally, Dr. Nancy O’Reilly, a psychologist who specializes in women’s issues, said there’s some key areas where women are underrepresented. “We need more women in politics, we need more women in business and industry and we need more women in the spiritual world,” said O’Reilly.
The biggest roadblock towards getting those jobs? Dr. O’Reilly said it’s a shortage of female mentors. “This is where I think we can be the most powerful and helpful, when we sit down with other women who want to enter a professional career,” said O’Reilly.
All the people we spoke with say the biggest issue facing women isn’t having the right job skills or dealing with sexism, it’s self-confidence. “Women need to step up to the plate a little more, and be a little tougher,” said O’Reilly.
That means, having confidence in your decisions, not being afraid to think outside the box and making yourself stand out to your employer.
“You can go as far as you want to go— it’s just how much work you want to put in,” said Marge Anderson.
Dr. Nancy O’Reilly is part of an organization through the United Way, called FLIP, which stands for Female Leaders in Philanthropy. For more information about that organization go to the United Way’s website at www.uwozarks.com.