A brave new world
The world changed in a fundamental way in 2008 and you probably didn't even know it happened. Most of us didn't know it happened because the data was collected in 2008, but was not reported until a few days ago. However, the shock wave started by the change hasn't reached us yet, in fact it likely won't reach us for another 10 to 15 years.
The earthquake I am referring to is an economic, political and social quake that will shake us on every level, personal, professional, political. Last week it was reported that for the first time in human history, women are earning both advanced degrees and undergraduate degrees in the same numbers as men. It is very likely that women will surpass men next year in every category except business, science and engineering.
The implications of this data cannot be overstated. Soon, women will move past men in formal education and their salaries will continue to climb as well; first passing men who do not have a university education, then going on par with men who do have an education.
More women will be qualified for, and then elected to, public office from the local to national levels. This will prompt more equality in terms of pay in the workplace and consideration in private and public life. Family dynamics will change with a power shift inside families, as women find themselves with more economic options.
Just one example is the number of families with "working moms" and "stay at home dads" increases every year. Another was demonstrated to me recently when I spoke at a professional organization dinner, where more than half the room was female in a traditionally male dominated profession and the president-elect of the group is a woman.
The cracks in the traditional structures will compound each other as the changes in one institution allows or even fuels changes in other societal systems. As girls watch their mothers achieve new heights in society they will be emboldened to challenge the status quo yet again. As other countries watch our changes, the world will be dragged, kicking and screaming into the new paradigm.
All of this is now a "fait accompli," and there is little men could do about it at this point, even if we wanted to stop these changes. In 1999, when looking at young adults 25 to 29, 30 percent of women held a bachelor's degree or higher, while only 27 percent of men did. In 2009, the percentage for women had grown to 35 percent while the percentage for men had stayed the same at 27 percent.
I do not know if these changes will ultimately be good or bad, however, I hope and am inclined to believe, it will be for the best. History has shown that when we increase opportunity and take advantage of intelligence and talents, no matter the color or gender of the holder of those intelligence and talents, our society and nation are far the better for it.
Last, I know my daughters will benefit from this shift, but my sons will too. If nothing else, they will have to step up their game, or their sisters, and wives, will leave them behind.
Mark Altman is a speaker and leadership consultant with the Altman Leadership Center. He is an international speaker with two books and a DVD that can be purchased on Amazon.com. He can be reached at mark@leadright.net.