Wide Support for Women in Workplace

Men and women are accepting - and even embracing - the increasing role of women in the workplace, but many is still struggling with the repercussions on family life. Those are some of the findings of a nationwide survey done in conjunction with a major report on the status of women by Maria Shriver and the Center for American Progress.

The Shriver Report: A Woman's Nation Changes Everything" takes an in-depth look at what has happened, and what still needs to happen, now that women make up virtually half the work force, up from about one-third of the work force 40 years ago.

The survey found that around three-quarters of men and women believe that the growing presence of women in the workplace has been very or somewhat positive for American society and the economy.

Both men and women generally said they believe women can be equal partners in work, regardless of family responsibilities. For example, nearly 45 percent of men and 56 percent of women surveyed strongly disagreed with the notion that mothers cannot be as productive at work as people without children.

On a personal level, men and women are dealing with the increase in dual-earning households by negotiating family schedules, duties and responsibilities - in fact, 40 percent of those surveyed said they coordinate such tasks daily.

As more women enter the work force, the survey shows continuing concern for how the trend is affecting their children and home life. Sixty-five percent of men and women surveyed felt that the decrease in children growing up with a stay-at-home parent has been somewhat or very negative for American society.

More than half of people surveyed also strongly agreed that businesses that fail to adapt to the needs of modern families risk losing good workers.

The survey also offered strong evidence that some stereotypical concerns about gender divides do not necessarily hold true. Only 10 percent of men surveyed strongly agreed with the statement that men have "lost the battle of the sexes," while nearly 31 percent strongly disagreed with that statement.

Both men and women surveyed also overwhelmingly said they are comfortable with women in the household earning more than men. And more than 70 percent said they did not think that the shift has left men and women confused about how they are supposed to interact.

And yet, gender divides do remain, especially when it comes to household responsibilities. The survey found that about 55 percent of women strongly agreed that, in households where both partners have jobs, women take on more home and family responsibilities. Only 28 percent of men strongly agreed with that conclusion.

Source: msnbc.com, Allison Linn, 10/15/09