Embedded Files
Introduction & Historical Context
Introduction & Historical Context
Throughout history, women have often faced restrictive societal norms, as illustrated by the practice of foot binding during China's Qing Dynasty. This custom, which involved tightly binding young girls' feet to keep them small, symbolized broader societal constraints, with women expected to lead secluded lives within their homes. This phenomenon was not unique to China; women in the US have grappled with similar dilemmas.
Of course, with the advent of liberation movements globally, the concept of womanhood underwent significant reevaluation. The Industrial Revolution marked a pivotal turning point, opening new job opportunities and leading many women to enter the workforce, particularly in factories—a movement well-documented in various historical accounts from the United States. By the 20th century, the women’s rights movement had gained considerable momentum. Women's roles during the World Wars were instrumental, marking a significant shift in the historical narrative of their societal involvement. The adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women by the United Nations in 1979 further advanced women’s social status, paving the way for remarkable progress in fields such as politics and technology. There are also a lot of women writers such as Jane Austin, who received higher education.
However, despite these advancements, women’s unemployment rates remain higher than those of men, as evidenced by the 2022 employment landscape in the United States. For example, while 53.2% of White men participated in the labor force, only 35.2% of White women did. This pattern persists across various racial and ethnic groups, indicating a gender gap that may stem from distinct cultural, economic, and social factors. The disparity is particularly pronounced in certain age groups, with men’s participation peaking between the ages of 35-44 and 45-54 years—rates significantly higher than those of their female counterparts. These trends suggest age-related barriers that disproportionately affect women’s employment, such as peak childbearing years and associated caregiving responsibilities. This ongoing disparity highlights the necessity of further efforts to increase women’s employment rates and enhance their participation in the market. By continuing to challenge and dismantle the structural barriers that limit women’s workforce engagement, we can foster a more inclusive and equitable economic landscape.
This is also the meaning of our project: “Unraveling the Factors Behind Women’s Unemployment in the US.” By identifying and understanding the multifaceted reasons behind the persistent employment gap between men and women, this project aims to inform targeted policies and initiatives that can effectively address these issues. We aim to contribute to the creation of a more equitable and prosperous economic landscape, where women’s participation is fully recognized and valued. Furthermore, it helps to visualize those factors’ data to help researchers see the association.
Theoretical lens
Theoretical lens
“There are many kinds of feminists, but all share the belief that women have been subordinated in societal institutions that enforce ideologies of gender” (Houston, 1). Our project aims to explore why women have a higher proportion of underemployment and the factors that constrain them. The core purpose of feminism is to adjust and improve the social conditions of women, analyzing and addressing the underlying causes that restrict them. Feminism also aims to address a wide range of social issues, exploring the situations of various vulnerable groups and providing a platform for discussion.
Additionally, our project integrates other theoretical perspectives, such as formalism, by analyzing various factors related to women to explore their individual impacts. We also employ structuralism, examining the causes behind the disadvantaged status of women within the feminist framework. With the support of data, we aim to delve deeper into addressing these feminist-related issues.
Our research also incorporates Marxism to a certain extent, as Marxism primarily discusses the economy as a driving force for social change. We recognize the interplay between individuals and epochs—the collective actions of individuals shape the era, while economic trends and external environmental factors of the era, in turn, influence individuals. Under this framework, there is a significant correlation between the nation’s economic condition and women's social status. Therefore, we use GDP as our dataset, which is the measurement of the whole economy, hoping that Marx’s perspective will provide broader viewpoints and solutions for our theme. This approach not only helps us understand how economic conditions shape societal structures, especially the status of women, but also equips us with tools to analyze and resolve these issues.
A map for our theoretical methodology and technical methodology is presented below.
Data Analysis & Interpretation
Data Analysis & Interpretation
Factor 1: Children and Labor Force Participation Rate of Mothers
Factor 1: Children and Labor Force Participation Rate of Mothers
This table presents the labor force participation rate, with the y-axis representing the percentage of the population that is working or actively seeking work. On the x-axis, gender is categorized into several groups, including married women with spouses, and other living statuses for both men and women.
From this table, we can observe how children affect women’s participation in the market.
First, women with children under the age of three have the lowest participation rates. This is likely due to the extensive care young children require, which restricts these mothers' ability to work. In contrast, the participation rate for fathers during the same period is at its highest, indicating that a child's age does not significantly impact fathers' work involvement as it does mothers'. This reflects the common expectation in many households for mothers to primarily care for young children, highlighting the constraints placed on mothers within the family setting.
The second observation is that, regardless of the age of their children, the participation rate for men with children is always higher than that for women. This suggests that the impact of children on women extends beyond the early childhood years; as long as they have children, women generally show lower participation rates in the labor force compared to men.
The third notable phenomenon is that men without children show a decrease in their participation rates, whereas women without children are more likely to work, exhibiting higher participation rates. This interesting trend may reflect a variance in workplace engagement among men who do not have children.
Anyhow, there is a correlation and association between children and their influence on women’s participation in the market. It is likely because females are linked to the role of nourishing their child in a whole family.
Factor 2: Marital Status and Labor Force Participation of Women
Factor 2: Marital Status and Labor Force Participation of Women
The heatmap offers a visual representation of the labor force participation rates among men and women based on their marital status. The heatmap is structured with marital status categories on the vertical axis and gender on the horizontal axis. The color intensity represents the labor force participation rate, with annotations to indicate the exact values.
From this heatmap, we can observe that men exhibit higher participation rates across both categories. Married men with a spouse present have an employment rate of 94.1%, while the employment rate of married women stands at 69.8%. Men with other marital statuses have a participation rate of 89.0%, which is still significantly higher than that of women with other marital statuses, 75.2%. However, it is interesting to note that married men with a spouse present have the highest labor force participation rate while married women with a spouse present display the lowest labor force participation rate among all groups. This phenomenon may be explained by the traditional gender roles and societal expectations, where men are often viewed as the primary breadwinners, leading to higher labor force participation rates. Conversely, married women with a spouse present, are more likely to take on more domestic responsibilities including childcare and household management, limiting their availability and inclination to participate in the labor force. Structural factors such as workplace policies, lack of affordable childcare, and societal norms about gender roles may further contribute to the lower participation rates among married women with a spouse present. These factors underscore the importance of addressing gender biases and providing supportive measures to encourage greater labor force participation among women.
Factor 3: Educational Attainment
Factor 3: Educational Attainment
This radar chart provides an analysis of the labor force participation rates of women based on their educational attainment and ethnicity. The chart is structured with different educational levels along the perimeter, and the participation rates for each racial/ethnic group are represented by different colored lines.
The chart reveals that women with higher educational attainment generally exhibit higher labor force participation rates across all racial/ethnic groups. For instance, women with advanced degrees show significantly higher participation rates, with Asian women leading this category. This trend is consistent with other higher education such as Bachelor’s degrees, where higher educational attainment correlates with increased labor force participation. In contrast, women with lower educational attainment, such as those with less than a high school diploma, display lower participation rates. Asian women, in particular, have notably lower participation rates in this category compared to other groups. This pattern highlights the critical role of education in facilitating women’s entry and sustained participation in the labor force.
Factor 4: GDP
Factor 4: GDP
Over the past few years, the overall GDP of the United States has significantly increased due to several factors. These include an increase in exports, a rise in productivity, and greater consumer spending. Improvements in import trade and international relations have also contributed, particularly as the U.S. maintains a leading position in AI technology, which dominates a substantial share of the global trade market.
However, there was a decline in the overall GDP in 2020, likely due to the pandemic and possibly other factors. Post-pandemic, we have observed a notable rebound in the U.S. GDP, attributed to the recovery in productivity and possibly national subsidy policies. Recently, the U.S. has implemented several interest rate hikes, encouraging a significant amount of investment to return to the domestic market, thereby earning a differential in the international market—factors that contribute to the rise in GDP.
Generally, an increase in GDP is also due to a rise in the employment rate, which in turn boosts the consumption rate, indirectly leading to an increase in GDP. This situation illustrates a trend in the U.S. economy and its correlation with employment rates.
Conclusion
Conclusion
In conclusion, utilizing a feminist lens, we have explored various factors that contribute to women's low market participation and subsequent higher unemployment rates. These factors include the number of children in a family, educational attainment, marital status, and the society's GDP. Family background also significantly impacts this issue. Extensive research indicates that regions with higher economic development generally exhibit greater gender equality, whereas less affluent families tend to have lower levels of equality. Additionally, cultural elements such as religion profoundly shape gender roles and merit further exploration. Ultimately, we aim to tackle broader social issues by integrating feminist and Marxist perspectives, striving to improve gender equality.
Page updated
Report abuse