Woman Between Islam and Western Society
3. Western Woman
~ 129 ~
management occupational areas, they are still
overwhelmingly employed in the administrative
support occupations, including clerical and
secretarial jobs, and services (such as sales-girls,
waitresses, hairdressers, etc.). In 1975, only 5.2
percent of employed females were in executive,
administrative or management occupations,
whereas by 1990 this had grown to 11.1 percent.
Similarly, in 1975, 13.2 percent of employed women
worked in the traditional professions (i.e., as
physicians, lawyers, registered nurses), and 2.7
percent worked in technical and related professions
but, by 1990 this had increased to 15.1 percent and
3.5 percent respectively. In 1975, 63.7 percent of
female employees were confined to four areas —
namely, sales, administrative support, private
household and other service occupations. In 1990
58.6 percent of employed women still worked in
these fields.
So, although women in America are now 13.9
percent of all police and detectives, 19.3 percent of
all physicians, 36 percent of all computer
programmers, 43.5 percent of all manufacturing
assemblers, 44.3 percent of all financial managers
