In the ever changing, fast paced lives of today’s budding young women, it seems as though certain social rules and standards aren’t expected. The traditions of the past that women were to live up to no longer exist. From casting off social stigmas like women not being able to work in the corporate field to abandoning the notion of modesty, times are most definitely changing.

There is no denying that women are starting to stand up and take their places in modern day society. Women are not sitting blindly by and letting men lead anymore. They are influential and important factors not only in the home, but in the work place, the media, education and the government. They are changing the definition of femininity and recreating their roles in their families and circles of influences. In past generations, women were still great and powerful but far more limited than they are today.

According to the Huffington Post, the gender gap between unemployed men and women in the workplace is steadily closing and is currently at 0.4 percent. These changes, though gradual over a period of time, represent a movement in the structure of society, in general. Women make up about 46.9 percent of the workforce. Job opportunities have opened up to females and allowed young women to venture into different fields. There are no longer jobs that are only set aside for males. There is a crossover that is apparent.

“I feel like equality in the work place has increased. I’m personally not going into a male dominated field, but if I were to go into something like business, I might feel more of a challenge. There still seems to be more male CEO’s and owners of companies than women,” said Abbey Andres, senior.

Though, it is still a challenge for some women to climb up the corporate ladder or stake their claim in positions of power, it has become increasingly more common and easier to do. The number of women in the United States Senate as of November 6, 2012 is higher than it has ever been. A record breaking twenty women are set to serve their terms. Two out of the nine Supreme Court Justices currently serving are females.

Females who were once restricted to specific gender roles are branching out in every sense of the word.

“I have not experienced unfair treatment while working or applying to schools. I don’t personally feel at a disadvantage and I’m very thankful for that,” said Julia Davis, senior.

Thanks to the work of women throughout generations, doors for young women have been yanked wide open in education, as well. They are no longer playing a game of “catch-up” with their fellow male students and are in some ways, surpassing them.

“Women are now just as likely as men to have completed college and are virtually equal in earning advanced degrees,” according to MSNBC.com.

Young women are taking their education extremely serious. The Department of Education reports that females are less likely to socialize and more likely to study than male students. It also reports that females, on average, make better grades than males—whether this is a result of an internal need to go above and beyond in order to prove themselves or just a simple difference in gender ideals.

“Sometimes I feel like I have to work harder because men get jobs over women simply because they are males. I feel like I’m going to have to work hard in college and get good grades and really show my work ethic so I will not get passed over because of my sex,” said Jesi Wydrzynski, senior.

In the media, the divide between women of today and women of the past is obvious. The domesticated, sweet smiling women from shows like “Leave it to Beaver” and “I Love Lucy” who slept in their makeup and woke up at the crack of dawn to cook breakfast for their families has left the screen.

These images have been replaced by a number of different portrayals and ideas on what today’s woman should look like. In some instances, there is still a small amount of sexism still lingering. Shows like “Gossip Girl”, “Bad Girls Club” and “Teen Moms” cast females in a negative light, making them seem silly, love-sick and catty.

“Women are always sex symbols. They are not always the lead and a lot of time their roles are the gold digger and not the ones bringing home the bacon or doing anything especially positive,” said Abbey Andres, senior.

Other young women at Westminster Christian Academy have recognized this false portrayal of females on television, as well and are not willing to buy into it so easily.

“Certain movies and music, in particular portray women unjustly. Still too often are we reduced down to our sexuality with the sole purpose of pleasing men. I hope that continues to become less and less of the norm as time passes,” said Julia Davis, senior.

Though, there are most certainly still false depictions of what a woman is and what she should be in the media, there are shows that counteract those negative ideas. Shows like “Scandal”, “The Good Wife” and even teen shows like “iCarly” redefine society’s ideas of women. Though the leads are far from perfect, the viewer is able to see smart, savvy, educated women doing interesting and important things.

“We’re a lot more than most television shows make us out to be. They portray us as simple and one-dimensional so it’s not only refreshing but important to see something different when I turn on my television,” said Annie Rebbe, senior.

The media shapes how young women often view themselves. It shapes their self-esteem and can either help or hurt their confidence. It is important that young women see other young women just like them in Congress, in college, and on the television screen embracing who they are and continuing to advance and better themselves.

“Women aren’t just emotional, and always wanting attention from men. There should be no job, no look, and no behavior that’s specifically tied to any sex. That’s just ridiculous in this day and age,” said Anne Rebbe, senior.

How the women of the present perform will always shape the rolls of women of the future. Things like education, careers and family values must be emphasized while unfounded social stigma’s and an increased emphasis on superficial things like sex appeal minimized. Time has allowed females to branch out and to explore their options and it is only right that they take full advantage of their opportunities. This can only happen if women continue to feel confident in their chances to succeed and personal ability. Sexism is stifling to all people and without women, society would not be able to make the advancements they have made today.

“I think things have without a doubt gotten better. Total equality seems to be in the near future for women one day soon,” said Abbey Andres, senior.