ABSTRACT

This chapter explains some of the constant themes that have emerged throughout the contributions in relation to 'women and work'. It discusses age of post-feminism where women's work experience will take on a new and unexpected character, both at the individual and social level. The tendency to treat all women's experience as homogenous, however, has to be avoided. Class, race, age, physical ability and sexual orientation are factors which cannot be ignored in considering the trends which are shaping women's employment. Women earn consistently less than men, therefore the necessity for legislation and practice to support women's equal rights is doubly apparent, but is not forthcoming. The growing population of the very elderly also affects women in midlife and the 'young-old'; women in these groups can find themselves caring for frail and disabled dependants. Legislation around equality of gender, as well as in regard to discrimination in other areas, has been put into place.