When Women Didn't Count : The Chronic Mismeasure and Marginalization of American Women in Federal Statistics

Much of women's history has been hidden and filtered through unrealistic expectations and assumptions. Because U.S. government data about women's lives and occupations has been significantly inaccurate, these misrepresentations in statistical information have shaped the reality of women's lives. They also affect men and society as a whole: these numbers influence our investments, our property values, our representation in Congress, and even how we see our place in society. This book documents how U.S. federal government statistics have served to reveal and conceal facts about women in the United States. It reaches back to the late 1800s, when the U.S. Census Bureau first listed women's occupations, and forward to the present, when the U.S. government relies on nonprofit groups for statistics on abortion.Objective and accurate,__When Women Didn't Count__isn't focused on numbers and census results as much as on recognizing problems in data, exposing the hidden facets of government data, and using critical thinking when considering all seemingly authoritative sources. Readers will contemplate how the government decided that a "farmer's wife" could be a farmer, how the ongoing battle over abortion has been reflected in the numbers the government is allowed to keep and publish, the consequences of the Census Bureau "correcting" reports of women in unusual occupations in 1920, and why the official count of women-owned businesses dropped 20 percent in 1997. Erroneous Government-generated Data Is More Problematic Than It Would Appear. This Book Demonstrates How Women's History Has Consistently Been Hidden And Distorted By 200 Years Of Official Government Statistics. Much Of Women's History Has Been Hidden And Filtered Through Unrealistic Expectations And Assumptions. Because U.s. Government Data About Women's Lives And Occupations Has Been Significantly Inaccurate, These Misrepresentations In Statistical Information Have Shaped The Reality Of Women's Lives. They Also Affect Men And Society As A Whole: These Numbers Influence Our Investments, Our Property Values, Our Representation In Congress, And Even How We See Our Place In Society. This Book Documents How U.s. Federal Government Statistics Have Served To Reveal And Conceal Facts About Women In The United States. It Reaches Back To The Late 1800s, When The U.s. Census Bureau First Listed Women's Occupations, And Forward To The Present, When The U.s. Government Relies On Nonprofit Groups For Statistics On Abortion. Objective And Accurate, When Women Didn't Count Isn't Focused On Numbers And Census Results As Much As On Recognizing Problems In Data, Exposing The Hidden Facets Of Government Data, And Using Critical Thinking When Considered All Seemingly Authoritative Sources. Readers Will Contemplate How The Government Decided That A Farmer's Wife Could Be A Farmer, How The Ongoing Battle Over Abortion Has Been Reflected In The Numbers The Government Is Allowed To Keep And Publish, The Consequences Of The Census Bureau Correcting Reports Of Women In Unusual Occupations In 1920, And Why The Official Count Of Women-owned Businesses Dropped 20 Percent In 1997. -- From Dust Jacket. Why Care About Government Statistics?. Introduction ; Statistical System Of The United States -- Demographics. Population And Age ; Marriage, Divorce, And Cohabitation ; Motherhood ; Single Mothers -- Women At Home. Heads Of Household, Heads Of Family ; Housewives, Homemakers, And Housekeepers -- Concepts Of Employment. Occupations Suitable For Women ; Gainful Employment ; Income ; Unemployment During The Great Depression -- Women At Work. The Bureau Of Labor Statistics And The Women's Bureau ; Employment ; Women Factory Workers ; Farm Females ; Women Business Owners, Women-owned Businesses -- Women And Health. Nonreproductive Health Issues ; Contraception ; Abortion -- Women And The Law. Women As Criminals ; Prostitution ; Women As Crime Victims ; Rape -- Women At War. Rose The Riveter: Civilian Women During The World Wars ; Women In The Military -- Conclusion. Robert Lopresti. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Erroneous government-generated "data" is more problematic than it would appear. This book demonstrates how women's history has consistently been hidden and distorted by 200 years of official government statistics. Much of women's history has been hidden and filtered through unrealistic expectations and assumptions. Because U.S. government data about women's lives and occupations has been significantly inaccurate, these misrepresentations in statistical information have shaped the reality of women's lives. They also affect men and society as a these numbers influence our investments, our property values, our representation in Congress, and even how we see our place in society. This book documents how U.S. federal government statistics have served to reveal and conceal facts about women in the United States. It reaches back to the late 1800s, when the U.S. Census Bureau first listed women's occupations, and forward to the present, when the U.S. government relies on nonprofit groups for statistics on abortion. Objective and accurate, When Women Didn't Count isn't focused on numbers and census results as much as on recognizing problems in data, exposing the hidden facets of government data, and using critical thinking when considering all seemingly authoritative sources. Readers will contemplate how the government decided that a "farmer's wife" could be a farmer, how the ongoing battle over abortion has been reflected in the numbers the government is allowed to keep and publish, the consequences of the Census Bureau "correcting" reports of women in unusual occupations in 1920, and why the official count of women-owned businesses dropped 20 percent in 1997. Erroneous government-generated'data'is more problematic than it would appear. This book demonstrates how women's history has consistently been hidden and distorted by 200 years of official government statistics.Much of women's history has been hidden and filtered through unrealistic expectations and assumptions. Because U.S. government data about women's lives and occupations has been significantly inaccurate, these misrepresentations in statistical information have shaped the reality of women's lives. They also affect men and society as a whole: these numbers influence our investments, our property values, our representation in Congress, and even how we see our place in society. This book documents how U.S. federal government statistics have served to reveal and conceal facts about women in the United States. It reaches back to the late 1800s, when the U.S. Census Bureau first listed women's occupations, and forward to the present, when the U.S. government relies on nonprofit groups for statistics on abortion.Objective and accurate, When Women Didn't Count isn't focused on numbers and census results as much as on recognizing problems in data, exposing the hidden facets of government data, and using critical thinking when considering all seemingly authoritative sources. Readers will contemplate how the government decided that a'farmer's wife'could be a farmer, how the ongoing battle over abortion has been reflected in the numbers the government is allowed to keep and publish, the consequences of the Census Bureau'correcting'reports of women in unusual occupations in 1920, and why the official count of women-owned businesses dropped 20 percent in 1997. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Illustrations 10 Preface 12 Acknowledgments 14 Chronology 16 Part I Why Care about Government Statistics? 20 Chapter 1 Introduction 22 Chapter 2 Statistical System of the United States 26 Part II Demographics 32 Chapter 3 Population and Age 34 Chapter 4 Marriage, Divorce, and Cohabitation 40 Chapter 5 Motherhood 48 Chapter 6 Single Mothers 54 Part III Women at Home 60 Chapter 7 Heads of Household, Heads of Family 62 Chapter 8 Housewives, Homemakers, and Housekeepers 68 Part IV Concepts of Employment 80 Chapter 9 “Occupations Suitable for Women” 82 Chapter 10 “Gainful Employment” 94 Chapter 11 Income 102 Chapter 12 Unemployment during the Great Depression 112 Part V Women at Work 118 Chapter 13 The Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Women’s Bureau 120 Chapter 14 Employment 130 Chapter 15 Women Factory Workers 148 Chapter 16 “Farm Females” 156 Chapter 17 Women Business Owners, Women-Owned Businesses 168 Part VI Women and Health 176 Chapter 18 Nonreproductive Health Issues 178 Chapter 19 Contraception 192 Chapter 20 Abortion 198 Part VII Women and the Law 208 Chapter 21 Women as Criminals 210 Chapter 22 Prostitution 222 Chapter 23 Women as Crime Victims 230 Chapter 24 Rape 238 Part VIII Women at War 248 Chapter 25 Rosie the Riveter: Civilian Women during the World Wars 250 Chapter 26 Women in the Military 260 Part IX Conclusion 268 Chapter 27 Conclusion 270 Notes 274 Bibliography 316 Index 360 Much of women's history has been hidden and filtered through unrealistic expectations and assumptions. Because U.S. government data about women's lives and occupations has been significantly inaccurate, these misrepresentations in statistical information have shaped the reality of women's lives. They also affect men and society as a whole: these numbers influence our investments, our property values, our representation in Congress, and even how we see our place in society. This book documents how U.S. federal government statistics have served to reveal and conceal facts about women in the United States. It reaches back to the late 1800s, when the U.S. Census Bureau first listed women's occupations, and forward to the present, when the U.S. government relies on nonprofit groups for statistics on abortion. Objective and accurate, When Women Didn't Count isn't focused on numbers and census results as much as on recognizing problems in data, exposing the hidden facets of government data, and using critical thinking when considering all seemingly authoritative sources. Readers will contemplate how the government decided that a "farmer's wife" could be a farmer, how the ongoing battle over abortion has been reflected in the numbers the government is allowed to keep and publish, the consequences of the Census Bureau "correcting" reports of women in unusual occupations in 1920, and why the official count of women-owned businesses dropped 20 percent in 1997.