Sheakley Updates

The Changing Role of Women in the Workplace

Chelsea Bikner
Women in the Workplace
Reading time 3 Mins
Published on Dec 19
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When women first began entering the American workforce, they were mostly relegated to roles thought traditional and fitting for women. From increasing numbers in the boardroom to increasing rates of business ownership, women have come a long way from the days of being confined to supportive and domestic positions. Understanding the changing roles of women in the workplace is an important step toward creating a more equitable work opportunities for men and women.

Broader range

Social movements like the feminist movement that began in the 1970s, equal opportunity legislation, and increased access to education have led women to enter a broader range of occupations. Women are increasingly searching for and commanding roles in traditionally male-dominated roles.

While women still make up the majority of the nursing profession, their representation is growing in the traditionally masculine roles of physicians and surgeons. The engineering field has actively begun courting female applicants by engaging with high schools and universities to get women to take part in STEAM programming, thus encouraging a love for math and science. If your industry is looking to increase the number of women in the workplace, consider getting involved early and often in school, community, and educational opportunities.

Taking on leadership roles

The percentage of women in leadership roles has continued to grow in recent years. With women making up nearly half of the workforce, demonstrating their skills and commitment, and attaining higher education, their opportunities for acquiring these management and C-level leadership positions has also increased. This isn’t only a plus for female employees, but also their companies and the economy as a whole.

Companies with a higher representation of female board members achieve better financial performance than those with lower representation, including a 53 percent higher Return on Equity, and 42 percent higher Return on Sales. Female leaders are often able to bring new ideas to the workplace, while also managing in ways that boost employee loyalty and engagement.

As income increases with leadership roles, women’s ability to make greater purchasing decisions also grows. Through a combination of buying power and influence, women are responsible for 70 to 80 percent of all consumer purchasing decisions.

Enabling female success in the workplace

As roles for women in the workplace continue to evolve, companies must rise to meet the unique challenges and demands of female workers. From helping to support greater access to affordable and reliable childcare to developing policies that allow employees to have a greater work-life balance, employers who dedicate time and resources to encouraging the success of female employees will reap great rewards.

Get your free consultation with a Sheakley HR representative today and find out how we can help you develop policies and procedures to help you promote greater gender equity in the workplace and encourage the success of female workers. Stay up-to-date on all things Sheakley by subscribing to our blog and following us on social media. Join in the discussion by commenting below.


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