A Tale of Many Women...

The history of women in the American business world has been fraught with obstacles and contention. It wasn’t until 1964 that sexual discrimination in employment was outlawed in the United States. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed in an effort to allow women to be given equal pay and consideration for promotions based on their qualifications. Yet, these types of discrimination still silently occur at times, even today. Studies have shown that women are often passed over for opportunities, though they may have equivalent or superior education or credentials than their male counterparts. Moreover, statistics have shown that women only earned 77 cents for every dollar earned by men in 2008. Though, the business world has not always been kind to women, they have persevered and become some of the most influential, successful forces in business.

One of the most inspiring and powerful people in America is Oprah Winfrey. From a background of poverty and hardship, she has built one of the strongest and most widely recognized empires in the world. Now a world-renowned television host and producer as well as a generous philanthropist, Oprah began life in rural Mississippi. Born to a single teenage mother, Oprah spent most of her early childhood with her grandmother on a primitive farm. She went on to be sexually abused by male relatives beginning at age nine and lived a frightening and emotional adolescence. Still, in spite of some difficult obstacles, she worked diligently to educate herself. While attending Tennessee State University, she co-hosted a morning talk show and soon she had become a local celebrity. After landing a position as an co-anchor for her local news station at age 19, she left school to follow her passion. She has since launched her own production company, published two magazines and founded Oprah's Angel Network, an organization that recognizes individuals who improve the lives of others. From such humble beginnings, Oprah has become one of the most successful people in the world and the first African-American woman to become a billionaire.

Yet, while Oprah's story is truly a realization of the American dream, other strong, intelligent women have also made great contributions to the tradition of American business. Martha Stewart, another iconic businesswoman, has become a household name with her line of housewares products, magazines and her own network, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Whether consumers were seeking decorating tips, crafting ideas, recipes, entertaining advice, or a host of other creative information, Martha Stewart has been the authority since 1982. Originally a stockbroker, Martha left Wall Street at the onset of the 1973 recession. Shortly after leaving brokerage, she began a catering service from her basement and eventually started her own magazine in 1990. Though she has had her share of legal trouble, accused of insider trading and charged with misleading federal investigators and obstructing an investigation. Still, her fans remained loyal and she has found the silver lining of every cloud. She has published a collection of books, hosted a variety of television programs, introduced a vast line of merchandise, and even expanded into construction and home manufacturing. Martha Stewart has touched many aspects of American life and through adversity and criticism, she has bounced back and maintained her focus where many others would have given up. Whether fans or critics, Martha Stewart has beaten the odds and earned the respect of her peers.

Another powerful, and highly respected businesswoman, Margaret C. Whitman successfully transformed eBay, Inc., from a small scale web flea market to a global merchandising force with millions of members, sellers and store owners collaborating daily to net over 2 billion dollars of annual revenue. Prior to joining eBay, she served as an executive for Hasbro Inc., FTD, Inc., The Stride Rite Corporation, a footwear company, The Walt Disney Company, and Bain & Company, a consulting company, as well as director of The Procter & Gamble Company from 2003 to 2008 and DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. from 2005 to 2008. Margaret C. Whitman has held impressive power positions and held her own against boardroom executives for decades.

There are numerous women who have impacted the American business world. Some of these businesswomen are recognizable by nearly everyone, and others have made their mark out of the spotlight. Women's roles have changed drastically over the past century. These changes were centered in industrialization and urbanization helping to define women's place in the business arena. A generation of women began to gain employment outside of the home, pushing against the traditional society rules of gender roles. Though most women were merely considered helpers or assistants, they were being welcomed into working environments which had not offered them options ever before. Workshops and factories were accepting more women into their workforce and even supervisor and management positions began to emerge for women. Once called "the weaker sex," many women now hold their own in predominantly male industries.

This revolution in American business afforded women a choice to be an equal partner, not a possession or an extension of their husband. Due to the protests and struggles of feminists from prior generations, who fought for the rights and respect of their daughters and granddaughters. While the battle is not yet won, these women have significantly dealt blows to the proverbial "glass ceiling". Still, as long as women continue to fight for equality in the workplace, perhaps in the future, gender discrimination can finally be laid to rest.

Further Web Resources

We are a prime example of a "small web site". We worked hard on putting this site together, but our journey ends here. Your journey on the web doesn't have to end, though, keep on reading on these great sites in the list below:

• Why Girls Trump Boys in Business
• Why No Girls in This List?
• An Ode to Business Leaders