Women and Work—Rights,Realities, and Prospects

Women's place as a permanent part of the work force has been established, but the question now is whether women will continue to be the majority of low-skilled, low-paid workers or will share equally in opportunities in all fields of employment. The economic needs of most women workers are approximately the same as those of male workers. With 6.6 million women heads of families in 1973, nearly one out of three such families was poor according to Department of Labor criteria. Professional job counselors have a responsibility to support women who make nontraditional career choices. Counselors and others must also be aware of the rights and resources available to each woman in pursuing her career goals.