We Did It? Part 1

In Part 2, I challenge the Economist's title "We Did It!". Here's an analysis of the lead story entitled Female Power. It addresses why there are more women in the workforce, the opportunities and challenges.

Why - this is pretty accurate and irrefutable (except for the vacuum cleaner - as far as I can see women spend as much time on housework now as my mother did in the 50s).

1. Feminists who raised consciousness
   
2. Women role models (e.g. Thatcher and Clinton)
3. Vacuum cleaners - reducing time required for housework
   
4. The pill - giving women control over reproduction
   

Challenges - parenthood

1. "Many children have paid a price for the rise of the two-income household."
2. "Childless women in corporate America earn almost as much as men. Mothers with partners earn less and single mothers much less."
3. Millions of families still struggle with insufficient child-care facilities and a school day that bears no relationship to their working lives.
   

Opportunities

Women will be the beneficiaries of the growing "war for talent"

Increasing women's participation in the labour market to male levels will boost GDP by 9% in America

Flexible work arrangements


More women-owned companies

Lead ON!
Susan
Susan Colantuono is CEO of Leading Women and author of No Ceiling, No Walls. She blogs on networking for PINK Magazine. Follow her on Twitter.