Agency, Voice, and the Evolution (AVE) of Women at Saint Mary’s, 1920-2023: Spring 2023

Women and Job Opportunities in the 1970s

During the 1970s women in South Bend and across the United States were increasingly entering the workforce and pursuing careers outside of the traditional jobs of teaching, nursing, and secretarial work. With the passage of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, which prohibited employment discrimination based on sex, and the subsequent establishment of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (1965), women had greater legal protections in the workplace. As a result, more women began working in fields such as business, law, and medicine. The National Organization for Women, founded in 1966, further helped to advocate for the expansion of opportunities for women in the workplace.

Saint Mary's College played a role in preparing women for these new job opportunities, offering academic programs in fields such as business and nursing, as well as promoting women's leadership and advocacy through supplemental programs. The College's commitment to women's education and leadership helped to prepare a generation of women for new job opportunities in South Bend and beyond. Despite ongoing challenges and obstacles, women in South Bend and throughout the United States continued to make significant strides in the workforce during the 1970s.

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