American women are finally in a position to surpass men in the workforce, but it took an economic recession for them to do it. The layoffs and plant closures experienced in the manufacturing and construction industries have hit working men terribly hard. Some estimate that 82 percent of the job losses during the recession have occurred for men. Why the difference? Women tend to hold jobs in “safer” recession-proof industries like healthcare and education. Women’s increased representation in the workforce should be a cause for celebration. However, several issues loom beneath the surface that stand to dampen the festivities. And while the proportion of women in the workforce may have surpassed that of men, their salaries have not.

Questions

1. Do you believe an extended recession could completely change gender roles in the United States? Explain.

2. Do companies have a responsibility to raise women’s salaries to accommodate their roles as primary breadwinners? Why or why not?