Report on the Socio-Economic Drivers of Female Labor Force Participation and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

This report analyzes the significant increase in female participation in the American workforce between 1950 and 1990. It examines the primary causal factors, contrasting the influence of social movements with structural economic transformations. The analysis is framed within the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular focus on SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Analysis of Labor Force Transformation (1950-1990)

Key Statistical Trends

The period from 1950 to 1990 witnessed a monumental shift in the composition of the American labor force, directly impacting progress toward gender equality metrics relevant to SDG 5. Key data points include:

• Female employment doubled during this period.
• Male employment grew by less than 10%, as a high percentage were already employed.
• The total American labor force expanded by 75%, with the entry of women being the primary contributing factor.
• By 1990, women constituted nearly half of the entire labor force.

Competing Theories on Causation

Two primary explanations exist for this transformation, each with different implications for understanding the achievement of the SDGs.

1. Social Consciousness and Advocacy: This perspective attributes the change to the Second Wave feminist movement, which worked to alter cultural consciousness and achieve legal equality. This aligns with the advocacy and policy-change aspects of achieving SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
2. Structural Economic Change: This argument posits that global economic transformations were the principal driver. These changes created both the demand for more labor and the economic necessity for dual-income households, directly relating to the dynamics of SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Case Study: Expansion of the U.S. Legal Profession

Unprecedented Growth in the 1970s

The legal profession serves as a salient example of these dynamics. The growth in this sector highlights the interplay between institutional development (related to SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and gender equality.

• The number of lawyers increased by 76% in the 1970s alone, from 326,000 to 574,000.
• This expansion was driven by structural economic factors, including a rise in corporate litigation and the increasing complexity of tax law.
• The new demand for lawyers created opportunities that were filled by a new cohort of professionals, including a significant number of women. By 1990, women comprised approximately 40% of law students.

This case suggests that while the outcome was an advancement for gender equality (SDG 5), the impetus was largely a structural economic demand that expanded the institution itself (SDG 8 and SDG 16).

Economic Imperatives and the Advancement of SDG 5

The Rise of the Dual-Income Household

A critical factor driving women into the workforce was economic necessity. The ability to maintain a middle-class lifestyle on a single income diminished significantly during this period. This reality reframes the narrative from one of pure choice and empowerment to one of economic imperative.

• This shift underscores the link between SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
• The entry of women into the workforce was not only an issue of equal opportunity but also a necessary response to economic pressures on households, a key concern for SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Conclusion: An Integrated View of Sustainable Development

The historical increase in female labor participation demonstrates that progress toward SDG 5 (Gender Equality) is deeply intertwined with, and often driven by, the structural economic forces detailed in SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). While social movements provided a narrative and framework for equality, the large-scale transformation of the workforce was propelled by fundamental changes in the global capitalist economy, such as the transition from manufacturing to services. This analysis concludes that female economic empowerment is both a catalyst for and a result of these broader economic shifts. A comprehensive strategy for achieving the SDGs must therefore recognize that abstract commitments to justice are most effective when they align with underlying structural and economic realities.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The entire article revolves around the changing role of women in the economy and society, which is the core of SDG 5. It discusses the “change in social expectations for women,” their entry into professions previously dominated by men, and the broader goal of achieving “equality for women under the law.” The text contrasts the 1950s, when women were expected to be homemakers, with the subsequent decades where it was “assumed that she will pursue a working life.”
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article provides a detailed account of a major shift in the labor market, directly connecting to SDG 8. It highlights the “profound transformations of the workforce,” noting that “between 1950 and 1990… female employment doubled” and that women’s entry “largely accounted for a 75 percent growth in the American labor force.” This analysis of labor force growth, employment rates, and the economic drivers behind them is central to this goal.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • This goal is addressed through the article’s focus on reducing the historical economic inequality between men and women. The efforts of the Second Wave of American feminism “to achieve equality for women under the law” are a direct attempt to reduce inequalities of opportunity and outcome. The article also touches on intersectional inequalities by noting that “many black and third-world feminists pointed out” that their experience in the workforce differed from that of “bourgeois white women,” highlighting the need to reduce inequalities among different groups of women.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 5 (Gender Equality):
   • Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. The article describes the historical context of the 1950s where women’s professional choices were limited (“they went to work as schoolteachers or secretaries or salesgirls. They did not enter the professions…”). The subsequent movement to achieve “equality for women under the law” and the change in social expectations directly address the elimination of discriminatory social and professional norms.
   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in political, economic and public life. The article explicitly details women’s increased participation in economic and public life. It states that by the 1970s and 80s, women were “breaking glass ceilings” and entering professions to “start a business, serve in government, or become university professors,” which are all forms of economic and public leadership. The mention of Hillary Clinton serves as an example of women reaching high levels of public life.
2. Under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
   • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value. The article’s central statistic that “female employment doubled” between 1950 and 1990 demonstrates a massive move towards full and productive employment for women. It discusses how women pursued a “working life” because they “needed to make a living,” underscoring the importance of employment for economic stability.
3. Under SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities):
   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… sex… The article is a case study of the economic inclusion of women. The transformation that led to the labor force being “almost half women by 1990” is a clear example of promoting the economic inclusion of a group that was previously largely excluded from many sectors of the formal economy.
   • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices… The article mentions the “twin efforts of liberals who worked throughout the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s to achieve equality for women under the law,” which directly relates to eliminating discriminatory policies and ensuring equal opportunity. The resulting increase of women in professions like law is a tangible reduction in the inequality of outcome.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Female Labor Force Participation Rate:
   • The article provides direct data to measure this. It states, “Between 1950 and 1990… female employment doubled,” and “The labor force was almost half women by 1990.” This is a key indicator for Target 8.5 (full and productive employment).
2. Proportion of Women in Professional and Managerial Positions:
   • This is a key indicator for Target 5.5 (women’s participation in economic life). The article provides a specific example from the legal profession: “The new law students and lawyers (about 40 percent of law students overall by 1990) were female.” It also mentions women entering roles to “start a business, serve in government, or become university professors.”
3. Growth Rate of Specific Professions by Gender:
   • The article implies this indicator by detailing the growth of the legal profession. It notes that “the number of lawyers jumped 76%—from 326,000 in 1970 to 574,000 in 1980” and attributes this growth largely to the entry of women. This can be used to measure progress towards Target 10.3 (reducing inequalities of outcome).

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: splicetoday.com