1940s: Women constitute approximately 24 percent of the total labor force in the United States.

Today: Women constitute approximately 47 percent of the total labor force in the United States.

1940s: Life expectancy for women in the United States is 68.2.

Today: Life expectancy for women in the United States nears 80.

1940s: Approximately 77,000 bachelor's degrees and 429 doctorate degrees are conferred to women in the United States.

Today: Approximately 712,000 bachelor's degrees and 20,000 doctorate degrees are conferred to women in the United States.

1940s: Claire Giannini Hoffman becomes the first female president of Bank of America, the world's largest bank.

Today: Carly Fiorina leads Hewlett Packard as its first female CEO and chairman.

1940s: Congress amends the Fair Labor Standards Act and raises the minimum wage from 40 cents to 75 cents per hour.

Today: Minimum wage is $5.15 per hour.

1940s: Elizabeth Kidd coins the phrase "Never underestimate the power of...