Improvements in education and economic expansion in the 1950s ensured a range of school-leaving employment opportunities. Yet girls' full acceptance as adult women was still confirmed by marriage and motherhood rather than employment. This book examines the gendered nature of 'career'. Using both written sources and oral history, it enters the theoretical debate over the significance of gender by considering the relationship between individual women and the dominant representation of 'Woman'.
The book contains success stories on active labour market, social inclusion, lifelong learning, adaptability, and women's participation. The chapter women's participation includes: young women in Austria, coaching to support sustainable jobs, equal-IT-y, Greek schools, electricians, flexible and equal workplaces, quality childcare in the community, training unemployed women, responsible employers, combining work with family commitments, the Basque country, toolkits for gender equality, a launch pad for employment in Scotland.