The world was a much different place in 1966 when James Brown recorded “It”s a man”s man”s man”s World.” The reality of that time was it really was a man”s world, even though Brown”s next line happened to be “but it wouldn”t be nothing, nothing without a woman to care.”
In 1966 American women were less than 50 years into having the right to vote. The college campus student ratio was predominantly male, many wives still stayed home to raise children, it was a rare marriage in which a wife, who did work, earned more than her husband, and there were very few elected officials of the female gender.
But, things were beginning to change. Borrowing strength and inspiration from the civil rights movement, the women”s movement, with leadership from strong women like Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem, began to help provide faster progress to the female cause. For centuries women were held back in many areas in a multitude of ways by a male-controlled world. It wasn”t right, but it was the way it was. In the 1960s, a woman who held the same position as a man, on average, received 37 percent less pay than the man. And, of course, it was extremely difficult then for a woman, even with superior education and skills, to be selected over a male applicant for a job.
Today, not even 50 years after James Brown sang about it being a man”s world, the situation has drastically changed. There may still be companies and certain professions where women could say sex discrimination still exists, but I believe those numbers are few. Regardless of the endeavor, whether in private business, entrepreneurship, the military, academia or politics, women hold many positions of power and authority and the numbers continue to rise.
If Alvin Toffler or John Naisbitt, who both wrote famous books about the future, were writing an update today, I would think that it would be impossible for them to leave out a chapter about the transformation or paradigm shift that is taking place regarding the reversal of power based upon gender. I”m no futurist, but by my observations, it appears that it will be just a matter of time before it is a woman”s world.
The signs are easy to read. I mentioned earlier that in the 1960s university campuses were dominated by young men. The ratio was about 60 percent male and 40 percent female. In 2010, that ratio is almost exactly the opposite. Young men, in disturbing numbers, are opting out of a college education, while more young women are scoring well in high school and taking many of the seats available at American colleges and universities. It doesn”t take a genius to surmise that, based upon this trend; in the not too distant future a majority of the corporate CEO and other corporate upper management positions, high-ranking government jobs and the elected political offices will be filled by ladies.
Already, in 30 percent of marriages the female earns more than the male and the percentage will continue to grow. Historically, the male was always known as the “breadwinner.” In this changing world it has been difficult for some husbands to accept that their spouse makes more money than they do. Others don”t seem to mind. If men don”t want to get an education, they better get used to this situation.
I have always been a strong supporter of the women”s movement. I am pleased by the fact that in the United States, as well as in many other countries, the sexes are finally viewed as equal and a man or woman”s success in life has more to do with their efforts than it has to do with their gender.
Gary Dickson is the editor and publisher of the Record-Bee. Call him at 263-5636, ext. 24. E-mail him at gdickson@record-bee.com.
