The history of technological change suggests that AI advancements may disproportionately impact women in the workforce. Women have traditionally held many clerical and administrative roles, which are highly vulnerable to automation due to their routine nature. For example, telephone switch operators in the mid-20th century were overwhelmingly women, and when automated switching technology was introduced by AT&T, tens of thousands of these jobs disappeared, forcing many women into lower-paying roles or out of the labor force entirely.

Despite this initial displacement, research shows that subsequent generations of women were able to adapt and find quality employment in new sectors as the economy evolved. The advent of appliances like the washing machine helped reduce unpaid domestic labor, allowing more women to enter paid jobs. From 1950 to 1980, female labor force participation rose from 34% to 52%, supported by growth in service industries such as retail, hospitality, and professional services.

The introduction of personal computers in the early 1980s was another major shift. While PCs eliminated some middle-level clerical positions traditionally filled by women, they also enabled women to take on more complex tasks that required new technical skills. Many women transitioned to roles that leveraged computing technology, which helped safeguard their jobs and wage growth amid automation pressures.

Looking ahead, AI poses a unique challenge as it advances further into tasks once considered higher-value and less automatable. Although many women now hold managerial and professional positions that offer some insulation from automation, the rapid progress of AI—which can continuously learn and improve—raises concerns about broader job disruptions. The key question remains whether the economy can generate new opportunities to absorb displaced workers, as it did in past tech transitions.