More men seem to be losing their jobs than women, thanks to this economic downturn. They may be paid less, and they may suffer from less chance of advancement, but they are working. I guess there is some irony here that some could appreciate, if there wasn’t already too much pain. It does seem that women work in sectors, where their jobs are somewhat more secure than the men.
According to a recent article in the New York Times, as more men lose their jobs, women are rapidly becoming the breadwinners. Since women are often paid less, not only is the loss of work having a major effect on the family income, the fact that it is the man losing it will often mean less bucks for household expenses. This has to put a squeeze on most families.
Men meanwhile try to help outwith chores around the house. There are certainly enough of them, as most of us know. And as the article attests, the economic decline, loss of money and jobs, has put a lot of stress on families. Stress causes friction that can also lead to divorce. Although, in this poor economy, it is likely that no one is really going anywhere.
I would imagine there are more than a few men, and women, too, for that matter, who are considering or actively learning new skill sets. This means extended period with less money as laid off workers go to school and learn new disciplines. It means less money in the house. In all, this will result in not only the current group of women in the workforce, but also the stay at home Moms who may have to got back into the labor force and find the type of jobs for which they are better qualified than their significant others.
Of course, women today must undergo the usual background checks that are conducted for men. There are compliance issues to be reckoned with, as well as the different realities. While it was once assumed that women would be less prone to have a criminal record or would lie about their education, while still true, these assumptions have nevertheless been mitigated by certain harsh statistics. Simply put, women do commit crimes and lie about their resumes.
Check them out before you hire.
It has been speculated upon that a prolonged recession will not only change lifestyles and modify household budgets, it may alter our perception of gender roles. Where we once had the famed Rosie the Riveter, will may yet have Rosie the Breadwinner. Although one women did remark, “I wouldn’t call msyelf the breadwinner. I make so little money.”