By Jing Zhao Cesarone
CHICAGO, March 4 (Xinhua) -- While gains in salary, prestige and career choices have increased dramatically for today's women, so, too, has the challenge to balance family and personal life, said an expert on women issues here Wednesday.
On the eve of the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. Sherren Leigh, founder and president of Today's Chicago Women magazine, described the event, which originated in Chicago, as an unbelievable milestone for women.
"It really has impacted globally, which is wonderful," she told Xinhua.
Commenting on the significant changes that have happened to women over the last century, Leigh said "In a nutshell it has been absolutely amazing!"
"Today, with the economy the way it is, there are more women employed in the U.S. workforce than men, and that is phenomenal. One hundred years ago, women fought for equal treatment, and today more and more women are the breadwinners."
According to a recent study by Federal Reserve researchers, the recession has hit men harder than women. Employment declined 8.2 percent for men but only 3.9 percent for women from December, 2007 to January, 2010. As a result, for the first time in history, the number of women on U.S. payrolls closely rivals that of men.
"Today's women earn higher salaries, maintain a higher standard of living and are responsible for the majority of purchasing decisions. We drive over 80 percent of consumer marketing decisions in this country -- that is the power women have over consumer buying," Leigh said.
In addition to being a major force in the workplace, women also play a critical role in the volunteering sector. "If women today stop volunteering at hospitals, charities or civic organizations, these places will go out of business," she said.
Covering a wide variety of women's issues in her magazine, Leigh has a clear idea of what the problem is for today's women: finding time for themselves.
With all the roles women play at work and home, the biggest challenge facing Chicago women today is the juggling act. "Saying we are stressed out is an understatement. It is just insane!" said Leigh.
"The demands on women today are numerous: in the workforce, in schools, at home, and on the Internet. Like it or not, because of technology, we are wired to our work 24/7. The demands are so non-stop, it is hard for women to embrace serenity. Unfortunately, we give up a big chunk of our lives for success in the business world," she added.
A dramatic example, said Leigh, is the woman who basically quits her high-powered job, buys a farm, raises her own food, home schools her children, and says, "You know what, I can do so much more with less," she said.
"Women are thinking about this sacrifice more today than ever before because they have never had so much stress," she noted.
"Years ago the role of women was pretty much defined within the home. Today it is defined anywhere you want to be, because of the options available and the message from the media that American women can have it all. But we know we can't have it all. We really have to take a little time out and say now it is time for me," said Leigh.
"So if today's professional women are suffering from their success, is this progress for women or not?" Leigh asked.
"It is a mixed blessing in a sense that we have the options to do anything we want, but as a result we are caught in such a fast-paced environment. Women are nurturing. We do everything for everybody but put ourselves last. We have to start putting ourselves first, and, of course, that is easier said than done."
Noting that so many women struggling with multiple roles, Leigh suggests that women take a hard look at what is important to them and pursue their priorities, which are different for each woman.
"There is no quick fix and I can't say one size fits all. If I knew the solution to the balancing act, I would make a fortune."
When asked about what role men should play as women are getting more involved in the workforce. Leigh said, "Be supportive to women just like women have been supportive to men for many years as they pursued their dreams. The relationship between husband and wife is evolving more toward a partnership with both of them being responsible at home."
On the future trend for women, Leigh said, "In my lifetime I hope to see a woman as the U.S. president. We need to have more representation in government, in which case we would probably see fewer wars. And we might find ourselves in a more nurturing society overall."
"What we will be seeing is that women will continue to find their place in the workforce. There will be endless options for women to do whatever they want to do and be whatever they want to be," she added.
