For several decades, most American women held a home-oriented, supportive role within society outside of the workplace. However, as the middle of the 20th century approached, a gender role paradigm emerged. The sequence of men leaving for war, the need to fill jobs for a growing economy, a handful of critical legal cases, the black civil rights movement seen and heard across the country, all greatly influenced and demanded social change for humans and women. rights. This momentous period marked the beginning of a social movement known as feminism and introduced a common phrase known in and outside the workplace as the “wage gap.” According to Merriam-Webster (2012), the wage gap is defined as “a statistical indicator often used as an index of the earnings situation of women relative to men. Often expressed as a percentage or divided into median annual earnings, the wage gap seeks to define and distinguish the salaries of men and women. Although the pay gap is a term first introduced in the early 1940s, progress in women's rights in the 21st century, particularly to equal income between men and women, is relevant today and remains heavily influenced by specific historical events. This article will examine the cultural context of white, middle-class American women's employment, from the early 1920s to the present. By exploring the progression and integration of women into the workforce, detailing the forces and influences of change, and examining critical court decisions, this article will provide perspective on the imagery drawn from the author. The author believes that the feminist movement in many This situation parallels the struggles faced by African Americans in the United States during the same period. The authors will offer insights into where the pro...... middle of article ...... organizational support for women's advancement and turnover intentions: the mediating role of employment and employer satisfaction. Review of Women in Management, 21(8), 643-661.Ladson-Billings, G. (2009). Critical Race Theory in Education. The Routledge International Handbook of Critical Education, 110. Sandberg, S. (2013). Lean In.US Census Bureau (2012). Gender Pay Gap by State and Congressional District, retrieved March 1, 2014 from the World Wide Web http://www.aauw.org/resource/gender-pay-gap-by-state-and-congressional-district/ Merriam Webster. com. Retrieved February 28, 2013 from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ Wood, G. (2008). Gender stereotypical attitudes: Past, present, and future influences on women's career advancement. Equal Opportunities International, 27(7), 613-628 http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/civil-rights-movement-overview