Complete Schedule
Overcoming Obstacles: UNI Business Women Challenge the Status Quo
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation (Electronic Copy Not Available)
Keywords
Businesswomen--Education--Iowa--Cedar Falls;
Abstract
“No woman gets an orgasm from shining the kitchen floor.” With this, Betty Friedan, author of The Feminine Mystique (1963), challenged the idea that being a housewife is fulfilling for all women. Also challenging this idea were eight women who graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with degrees from what is now known as the College of Business. During the 1960s and 1970s, more men than women were pursuing business degrees at the University of Northern Iowa. Having graduated during the Civil Rights Era, these women were a minority in the business profession, which was male-dominated at the time. While pursuing careers outside of the home, these women were also expected to maintain their roles as wives and mothers. Despite their various struggles balancing their work and home lives, these women pushed forward to become business owners and CEOs. These women can also give credit for their success to their time and experiences as UNI students. Through the collection of oral and written histories, these women’s stories and experiences further add to the understanding of adversities women have faced when balancing their lives in the workplace and at home.
Start Date
3-4-2018 1:00 PM
End Date
3-4-2018 4:00 PM
Faculty Advisor
Barbara Cutter
Department
Department of History
Copyright
©2018 Emily Snodgrass
Embargo Date
3-30-2018
Overcoming Obstacles: UNI Business Women Challenge the Status Quo
“No woman gets an orgasm from shining the kitchen floor.” With this, Betty Friedan, author of The Feminine Mystique (1963), challenged the idea that being a housewife is fulfilling for all women. Also challenging this idea were eight women who graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with degrees from what is now known as the College of Business. During the 1960s and 1970s, more men than women were pursuing business degrees at the University of Northern Iowa. Having graduated during the Civil Rights Era, these women were a minority in the business profession, which was male-dominated at the time. While pursuing careers outside of the home, these women were also expected to maintain their roles as wives and mothers. Despite their various struggles balancing their work and home lives, these women pushed forward to become business owners and CEOs. These women can also give credit for their success to their time and experiences as UNI students. Through the collection of oral and written histories, these women’s stories and experiences further add to the understanding of adversities women have faced when balancing their lives in the workplace and at home.
