The role of women in Britain has changed a lot this century, especially in the last twenty years. The main change has been giving women greater equality with men. Up to the early part of this century, a woman's main role was to find a husband, produce children and take care of them, look after and clean the house.
Perhaps the most important difference today is that so many women work, even after they get married. Today most women in Britain without a job either have very young children or are quite old. Over half of all married women now have jobs, and women as a whole make up over one-third of the Britain work force. This has changed marriage; when people get married, the husband and wife have very different roles from fifty years ago. If both husband and wife work, the woman will expect to be equal with her husband. For example, many young husbands are now ready to take their share in doing the housework and looking after the children. And the husband no longer expects to make all the important decisions himself. His wife will share in decisions about money. In some cases the husband does not work but his wife does. This may be because the husband wants to stay at home and take care of the children, but usually it is because he can't find a job. In this case, the wife earns money for her family, and takes on the traditional male role.
There are still some people in Britain today who believe that women are less important than men, and that a woman's place is in the home. But younger people usually do not have these old ideas, and young women expect to be treated as their husbands'equals. The big problem for women today is that they need to be "Superwomen" to be good at their jobs and to take care of their husbands, children and homes. In short, they have to do with two full-time jobs at the same time.
Perhaps the most important difference today is that so many women work, even after they get married. Today most women in Britain without a job either have very young children or are quite old. Over half of all married women now have jobs, and women as a whole make up over one-third of the Britain work force. This has changed marriage; when people get married, the husband and wife have very different roles from fifty years ago. If both husband and wife work, the woman will expect to be equal with her husband. For example, many young husbands are now ready to take their share in doing the housework and looking after the children. And the husband no longer expects to make all the important decisions himself. His wife will share in decisions about money. In some cases the husband does not work but his wife does. This may be because the husband wants to stay at home and take care of the children, but usually it is because he can't find a job. In this case, the wife earns money for her family, and takes on the traditional male role.
There are still some people in Britain today who believe that women are less important than men, and that a woman's place is in the home. But younger people usually do not have these old ideas, and young women expect to be treated as their husbands'equals. The big problem for women today is that they need to be "Superwomen" to be good at their jobs and to take care of their husbands, children and homes. In short, they have to do with two full-time jobs at the same time.