Social and psychological aspects of illness--past and present.

As industrialization and automation spread in the workplace in the 19th century and economic needs shifted, one major cultural response was to redefine the nature of women as fragile physically, intellectually inferior, and too emotionally unstable to stand the rigors of the workplace. These views persist today, as women are back in the workforce in numbers higher than ever. The elements in society, home, and workplace that contribute to absenteeism, poor or inconsistent performance, and depression among women are reviewed. This chapter reviews the historical events in the saga of women in the workplace and analyzes the contemporary status of those who are striving toward better work environments and greater occupational health for women workers.