Many sources quote potential reasons for this inequity, such as the tendency for women to gravitate towards underpaid professions, the need for time off for children, dependency on male income and the possibility of frequent transfers. On the other side, some argue that these jobs that attract women are undervalued because women hold them, that women would not need as much time off for children if fathers were given greater responsibility in this area, and clearly, women would not be dependent on the man's income if their work was given a respectable monetary value. These issues should concern women of all ages.

When answering the question, "What do I want to be when I grow up?" women have an additional factor to consider: motherhood. Many women are planning to be both a mother and a professional, but doing both can be difficult and exhausting. Relationships with partners, children and family may often take priority over career advancement; however, many women in their 40’s look back and wonder how they fell so far behind other professionals in their field.

The catch-22 of balancing a family and a career remains a standard for women in our society. A professional woman working 40-50 hours a week and with two kids at home often feels guilt and a sense of neglect to her family. However, if she stays home with her children she loses valuable time in experience and training, especially with regard to the ever evolving world of technology.

The Career Counseling Program at The Women's Center in Chapel Hill attracts women of all ages and backgrounds facing issues such as entering the work force for the first time, re-entering the work force after many years of being a homemaker, choosing a career that is personally and financially rewarding or balancing a career and family.

The comments of many women who use The Women's Center's Career and Educational Counseling Services emphasize recurrent themes such as: "I don't know what I want to do for the rest of my life now that the kids are gone;" "I am underpaid, underappreciated and overworked at my current job;" "When taking time off to be with my family, the career world became dependent on these machines called computers."

The Women's Center has provided assistance to many women facing similar issues. The Center's Career Counseling Program offers individual sessions with a counselor who helps assess interests, set goals and offers much needed support. In addition, group sessions guide women through the basics of resume writing, interviewing skills and the essentials of a job search.

The Center's Educational Counseling Program provides information on continuing education at all levels, job training programs and finding funding for both. The Center offers Community Education Workshops, such as "Introduction to Computers and the Internet," to increase marketability during the job search and on the job.

It becomes increasingly important for women to find ways to balance their personal and professional lives. Even in an apparently sound marriage or committed relationship, when a woman stays home, she leaves herself vulnerable to the difficult reality of re-entering the work force without the relevant skills or a higher education.

Many companies and careers are beginning to offer more flexible leave time for both fathers and mothers and to allow employees to work from home one or more days per week to facilitate finding that balance; however, there is still a long way to go. In the meantime, women will continue to struggle with balancing the many roles they are traditionally assigned and the newer one of bringing home a paycheck.

For more information on The Women's Center's programs, call 968-4610 or stop by the Center at 210 Henderson Street in downtown Chapel Hill.