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Show y i . I tf Wednesday, December 1, 1976 Peg5 The concept of the stay-at-home wife is a product of the 19th century. Historically, women have worked alongside men especially in times of war and crisis. Today many families can afford the luxury of a wife and or mother staying home. However, some women are beginning to question if this is a luxury or punishment. Work, women, changes in roles, equal opportunity laws, day care, and women's rights are becoming critical and controversial issues. Recent sociological changes in the living pattern of women require a closer look at the implications for women today. The Utah Governor's Commission on the Status of Women cites some critical facts: 8 out of 10 young women will marry; 8 out of 10 will have children; 9 out of 10 will be employed outside their homes for some period of their lives; 6 out of 10 will work for 30 or more years; 4 out of 10 married women work; Full time working women earn 57 percent of what men earn; Over 7 out of 10 women who work are single, widowed, divorced, or have husbands who earn under 7,000; V',J Over 1 in 10 families are headed by women; At least 3 in 10 marriages end in divorce and the rate is higher in Utah; 1 out of 10 women will be widowed before the age of 50. ' Many women are not trained to deal with a large part of the realities they will face. Many young women continue to choose between marriage and a career and assume if the choice is marriage, they are set for the future. The above facts suggest otherwise. In reality the shortest portion of a woman's life is the child nuturing years. If motherhood is viewed (and it is by many) as a woman's only or most meaningful role in life, that leaves 30 to 40 years that are denied significance. What happens to a women that is widowed, one who chooses to ' codbine m arriage and career. 1 those who remain single and pursue non-traditional employment, or one who has children who are leaving home? , Many will be forced into the job market without employable skills. Some will have to rely on inadequate financial assistance to support their families. The single woman that pursues a non-traditional occupation and or makes it in male roles may be criticized by her culture. She may find herself having to "prove" herself more than male counterparts and fighting for equal rights. The wife and mother who chooses to work for self-fulfillment may be accused of depriving her children because she is working. There is a myth about working mothers based on the assumption that if a woman pursues a career it is at the expense of her home and family. Her work is considered peripheral to her role as a homemaker. The woman who chooses to stay home and finds this fulfilling also faces problems. She must contend with friends, press, and peers discounting or degrading her choice. She is afforded little status in the occupation of "housewife" in terms of wages, vacations, benefits, and self worth. So, where do we go from here? There seems to be a double bind for women. However, the situation is far from impossible with new alternatives emerging and society re-examining its concept of what is right for 5 3 percent of the population. We have a right to self -fulfillment and a choice about how to get it. If work is one choice, what are the implications? Last week a Park City woman discussed her world of work and how it has affected her and her life. When work and home responsibilities are combined there are problems with time and money. Priorities must be set such as what activities can be eliminated or delegated. If there are children, day care must be provided through baby sitters, day care facilities, relatives, forming a pool with other mothers, or scheduling so both parents can share the responsibility. An assessment must be made in terms of income and outgo and the decision based on both financial factors and personal needs. The payoffs in terms of personal growth and satisfaction often outweigh the initial transition changes. The reasons f ori sefeking employment are as varied as the options.They may be based ton a forced situation, personal needs, or individuaT backgrounds. back-grounds. The possibilities include: a full time career, part time work, training or educational pursuits, volunteering, starting a business, or marketing a skill from your home such as writing, art work, accounting, etc. Assess your skills, needs and potential and then explore where these can be utilized and satisfied. When possible; allow for flexibility and change if the situation is not initally meeting your needs. If you consider starting a business there are some questions to explore such as available capitol, time commitment, your ability to organize time and people, and will your idea succeed? Ypu might consider consulting a lawyer, accountant, and others in similar businesses to assess the feasability. There are services available that can provide information about jobs, vocational counseling, and testing. These include Vocational Rehabilitation, the U of U Placement Center, the Employment Office, and the Women's Resource Center at the U of U. Other resources might be contacting non-profit agencies, alerting friends that you are seeking work, and following the newspaper for new businesses that may need employees. Your own creativity can be a source of developing a job or source of income. Talk .with other women who may be in the same position and you can pool your resources. There are also several books that relate specifically to the issue of working women. Most are available in paperback at a reasonable price. The following books are some examples of material on jobs, careers, and women's role in work: " ''" 1 AH Work and No Pay Juggling: the Art of Balancing Marriage, Motherhood and a Career , New Job Opportunities for Women Working Mothers , Handbook of Business Ideas and Plans How to Go to Work When Your Husband is Against It, Your Children Aren't Old Enough, and There's Nothing You Can Do Anyway We are all working women. The critical issue is that of choice not an issue of working vs. staying home or sacrifice vs. self fulfillment. Eleanor Roosevelt expresses this clearly in the following quote: "One's philosophy is not best expressed in words, it is expressed in the choices one makes... In the long run, we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die and the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility." Next week we will take a look at some choices other Park City women have made in terms of careers and jobs. - . . The rates yoi pay for as 'hare less maim ttalbM skee WM the year luiJi Aatn'i S riTt;; hi ; miafaral 2 rt A H . . O ; . - :. ,. - ill O OTsromeirs in we 1 ' !'MU - J'J . in wis to Ji iow ytfJ QU bloci r)il on 'u,u s area Look at whafs happened to some other costs: 1 , V- , i , ' mmmw- Illlllllplfl 1 r 1 Natural Postage, Persona gas, up 650 Income up 95.6 up 833 Ii; Illltllwl iifiiiiifiii Mi mmmmi - Medical Food Overall ax, Costs, Prices, cost of up 394 ud 275 living, up 232 mm jjj imiii Wages,, up 576 ' ' . : .' .t.;. i . ; - " 't-. , ' ' ; h v ' In the light of substantially increased costs in almost every area, we've been able to keep our rates reasonable, through our own exploration effort, operating efficiences, and sound marketing practices. Today, natural gas remains your most efficient and economical source of energy. We're doing everything we pan to keep it that way and to insure a continuing supply. for the years ahead. You can help, too, by conserving in your every use. Costs based on following sources: Natural Gas: Mountain Fuel's typical residential customer; Postage:, 1st Class letter rates; Income Tax? Rates for persons earning S8,000-$1 0,000 taxable income; Medical Costs; , Consumer Price Index Medical Care Component; Food Prices; Consumer : Price Index Food Component; Cost of Living: Consumer Price Index; Wages: Since 1940 data not available in a consistent series before that time, based on average wage and salary for Utah non-agricultural workers. . . . 1 '...: ' -' . , 'Our typical residential customer uses 180,000-cubic feet or gas annually. -and pays $233.32 for this service. To do a comparable job with another fuel you'd pay: $646.70 for propane; $445.42 tor heating oil; $248.99 tor coal; $596.91 for electricity. V: 1 ; VV. A MOUNTAIN FUEL |