Living Life: Stories of Women, Men and Changing Roles in the 20th Century
A new book and website on gender equity in education
Developed by Education Development Center, Inc., and funded by the Ford Foundation

Compared to when I was a child, during the 1950s and 1960s, women have accomplished wondrous things. I had few and in my personal life, no role models for women to be anything other than wives, mothers, teachers, nurses, or secretaries. I think of all the role models girls growing up today have and how wondrous it is that they need not feel the same limitations and constrictions that we felt.

As an African American woman I stand on the shoulders of my foremothers who illuminated the way for me. Women can choose anything now.

I will only talk about my own experience as to avoid summing up the experience of all women. As a first generation Mexican American who was born in the 70's, I have had the great pleasure of being an absolute leader in my own life. Essentially, I have tried to let my voice be heard, albeit without attempts to silence me, but I have had the luxury of being opinionated and making my own choices, such as leaving a very unhealthy marriage, attending a prestigious university and continuing to be a student without feeling so much pressure to have a family. I feel that I do not have a pathology if I choose not to be a mother, and consider myself a whole and fulfilled being.

Optimism is tempered by a sense of how far there is to go, about the lack of respect for women's contributions, about the continuing but more subtle discrimination. Men and women both recognize that for all the advances, women of color are still less advantaged than white women. They also point out that the struggle for work/family balance is one of the foremost issues today-women deal with having to be a "super multi-tasker", while the role of men within the home hasn't changed as much. For example, they said:

Women are achieving, working in most fields, have accomplished much in education, business, most areas. Many women are freer to try new endeavors, to travel, to control their money. There is still a "ceiling" for most women.

Women, in the developing world, have progressed substantially over the last 100 years. In the first half of the 20th century, they moved out of "slave" status -- without the right to vote, hold financial instruments, own land, etc. They emerged into another period in which their values were primarily pursuing the values of men -- money, power, and titles. As we enter the 21st century, they are finally emerging into being true leaders of their own lives in many spheres. Given our instantaneous communications abilities, they are also realizing that many women in the world have not walked over this bridge.

Women of color lag behind white women in career accomplishments. Women continue to earn less than men for equal work. Women continue to hit a glass ceiling and are not promoted to high level management positions.

Overall, and in the aggregate, (women are) much more involved in all facets of society at all levels. However, progress, involvement and opportunities for women of color have been, and continue to be, limited.

"We've come a long way, baby!" Society is beginning to capitalize on our unique talents. Thought is being given that there is more than one way to get the job done/look at things. But, there is still much to be done, traditions and stereotypes to be broken, and yet, another generation of young ladies to encourage and support. They will see farther because they stand on our shoulders.

Thinking about life today, how would you describe the lives and accomplishments of men today? The group agrees that men, especially European American men, as a group continue to hold most power, but that women are making progress. As with women of color, they felt that men of color also do not have opportunities to participate fully.

For the most part, they were doing many of the same things and taking their roles for granted, long before I did them.

Men, as a group, continue to assume that they are entitled to rule, to control, to hold, to dominate. It is still a shock to some to discover a woman in charge. The best clue to this is the absolute refusal of men's athletic programs to hire women as coaches. There must be women golfers, tennis players, swimmers, runners, soccer players, basketball players, competent to coach high school and college males. Most of these assumptions are held unconsciously, and only come to view when the man is taken by surprise. On the other hand, many in the younger generations expect to have women friends, to marry equals, to vote for women candidates. I do have hope for future equality.

White males dominate in income, politics, education, medicine.

European American males continue to dominate positions of power, leadership and influence. However, progress, involvement and opportunities for men of color have been, and continue to be, limited.

Hispanic men have also made great strides professionally.

Men have benefited from women's increased role possibilities but many have not expanded their roles to include home and childcare as women have expanded into the workplace. In general, most men in my world are much more aware of these responsibilities than my father was, but my world isn't the whole world.

Men continue to dominate positions of leadership, although women are making progress. Women's roles have changed more so than men's roles in the past 30 years, although men are adjusting.

Well, men still run the world. They seem to be doing it poorly.

To be honest, I don't think much about the roles and accomplishments of men. Based on the data that I have seen, it appears that they are doing as well as ever, with the exception of men of color, particularly African American men who continue to experience discrimination and a lower quality of life.

Limited by gender-role expectations, on one hand, but absolutely privileged by sexism. It'd be better for everybody if men's socially sanctioned gender roles weren't so narrow, and that might ameliorate sexism. But so long as we still run the world, we've got problems.

This is hard to answer and never thought about the accomplishments of men. Good, I suppose. But also given too much credit at times.

The roles of men have pretty much stayed the same compared to my father's generation. Men are still expected to be the bread-winners, to be "manly".

I think the roles for men have not changed much over time (at least regarding work). There is still a lot of pressure on men to succeed by having or striving for a high-paying, prestigious career/job.

The role of men has perhaps changed less in the past several decades than has the role of women. While women now (arguably) have more economic and social freedom than ever before, men appear to remain locked in relatively inflexible roles as breadwinners and providers.

They have the same privileges they have always had for the last 100 years

Not colored by the fact that they're male. Alexander Graham Bell advanced telecommunications; we don't make a fuss over the fact that he was a guy, we just go "Man, wasn't he a wonderful scientist?"

When it comes to changing roles, a sense of identity as a man, to changes in families and relationships, there seems to be dismay that little has changed for men. At the same time, many felt there are indications of positive changes that help men-and women.

The roles of men have changed as women work outside of the home. They take on more responsibility with children and home duties....sometimes kicking and screaming.

More are now willing to stay home and take over that responsibility.

I think it is a good thing that men have more choices in terms of seeking balance in their lives. For example, family-friendly workplace policies allow men to participate in family caregiving more just as they permit women to have families and careers. On the other hand, more flexible roles for men have not been embraced by society fully, which has limited the extent to which they are realized. European/Caucasian woman, 54

Some men have made the commitment to gender equity and live it.

Men are still given much of the credit and earn more, dollar for dollar. However, the wisest among them have learned to share the credit and the wealth. And because of this, they are better professionals and better people for having done so.

Men are worried and confused.

Some men (White males) have been given an "entitlement" that opens doors for them more quickly than the rest of us. I think men are confused in their roles as women have moved into "their" arena. I deal with many young men with confused identities in understanding relationships and what is "equal." I think men are often misunderstood if they are the ones working for and supporting empowerment of women. I don't think it is easy to stand with "us" in some situations. Men need and deserve recognition for their accomplishments just as women do.

The roles of men especially as fathers have come a long way.

A man's role has changed in the home and, to some degree, in society. Men are no longer automatically the primary breadwinners in a home. In fact, more men are staying at home raising children than ever before. That is an accomplishment!

I think we are seeing more egalitarian roles in, for example, heterosexual marriages whereas there are two individuals who are working outside the home and therefore men are willing to take on more domestic responsibilities.

Much less ambivalent, but also changing, very slowly, to becoming more flexible. Men however are punished for non-traditional behavior as well (even by women, for being "too sensitive", "not a real man", etc.)

I usually view the roles and accomplishments of men as the benchmark against which women's progress is measured. However, I am happy to say that I believe we are seeing more stay-at-home dads now than we ever have in American history, and I think this is a great improvement. The idea that men can stay at home while women work is revolutionary in bringing about equality both for women at work and for men at home. Why should mothers always be the primary caregivers?

In regards to attitudes toward women, I believe some men have come a long way from previous generations. I look at my own relationship with my boyfriend who prefers to clean, is a much better cook than I could ever be and can't stand watching sports. Some men have come to an understanding that women are their equals. However, some are still stuck in an idea of inequality of roles and abilities between men and women. Men are raised to be tough, emotionless and sport loving. It takes a strong man to cry, clean a house, cook for a woman, and see her intellectually as an equal. I have known some very strong men and I admire their overcoming of the male ideal. It is ironic that women are trying to prove their strength in order to be seen as equals and men have to weaken (according to societal standards) in order to become equals.