We are woman and hear us roar! We are liberated, independent, educated, and
working while being mommy and wife. The modern woman is no longer Suzy
Homemaker but Susan the CEO or Susan the PhD or better yet Susan I make my own
rules.
There was a time when women were told to be pretty, nice and find a good
husband that will take good care of them, but times have changed the marriage rate is
down and women have to take care of themselves and their children.
Educated, smart, witty and good looking are no longer just adjectives that
describe Mr. Right but it also is the new face of the millennium woman.
I consider myself an example of the new age woman. At a young age I helped
raise a child while attending school, interning, and working two part-time jobs. I pursued
my degrees with vigor while still maintaining a child. The new age woman has to be
tenacious and use all her resources to keep a float in a “man’s world”.
But I beg to differ that women are lagging in any way as the statistics are showing
women are becoming more educated and are flocking to the high powered positions more
than ever.

Education
Women are sweeping men in enrolling in college and completing. 44% of women
ages 18-24 enrolled in college and graduate programs as of 2010, compared to the 38%
of men in the same age group. 36% of women 25-29 years old had a bachelor’s degree
compared to the 28% of men which is a record his since the early 90’s. (Pew Research)
Ambition
Due to an increase in education and degrees what would keep a women from
becoming the business partner or career woman that was always dreamt of? Young
women are surpassing young men in the importance they put on having a high paying
career or profession in 2012, according to the Pew Research Center. Two- thirds (66%) of
young women ages 18 to 34 rate career high on their list of priorities compared to 59% of
young men. This can also be compared to the 56% of women and 58% of men in 1997.
Labor Force
In an era where women love designer wear more than ever and feel they deserve it
regardless of their socioeconomic class they have abandoned the Young and the Restless,
Bon-Bons and home to join the labor force in droves. In 2010, women made up almost
half of the labor force at 46.7% compared to the 46.2% in 1997 and 38.1% in 1970. (Pew
Research)
Marriage
Now the saying goes “every girl dreams of her wedding day” and it’s most likely
true because I know I sure have but that doesn’t mean marriage is off the table when
career is an objective as well. Trend is showing that young adults are marrying at lower
rates and at later ages than previous years. 33% of 18-34 year old women are married in
2012 compared to the three- fourths (73%) of women in the same age group in 1960.

But married women are not necessary forced to be barefoot and pregnant in modern times
as 48% of married couples in 2010 consist of two paychecks compared to the 34% in
1975. (Pew Research)

Children
My mother was a working mother and I speak in past tense since she is fully
retired at 54 years old, my sister is a working mother and a school teacher which makes
her a mother to many while working at the same time. I’ve had the pleasure of working
closely with an entrepreneur, philanthropist and teacher who is a mother of four while
being a mentor to many. The job never ends for a woman who has children but it also
makes it imperative that she brings in some source of revenue even if there is already a
money base in the home. More than 7 in 10 mothers with children at home are working.
For mothers 18 and younger that is already working rose form 47% in 1975 to 71% in
2010. Mothers with children younger than six in the labor force is slightly lower at 64%
than a mother whose children are 6 to 17 years old at 77%.

The dynamic of the woman is changing to meet the needs of the world. Women
are the nurturer, the bearers of life so we must evolve in order to stay purposeful. We are
leaders, we are no longer just behind the scenes anymore; we are out in front. We are
earning and providing for our families and for self. Women have come a long way since
the Women’s Suffrage movement of the 1920’s. With those rights and liberties we are
able to be wives, mothers, friends and a worker in any industry. Are we roaring loud
enough?