Womens Careers are Not the Result of Free Choice - Assignment Example

? Critically discuss the view that women’s careers are not the result of free choice Introduction: There are several social factors that affect a woman’s identity and her career decisions. We cannot say that a woman’s career is a result of her free choice. From ages, women were given limited opportunities; they were restricted only to manage the household and fulfilling her duties as a home maker whose life revolves around her family only. After World War II, women in United States started gaining their financial independence. Women were seen making selective career decisions, acquiring professional education, enhancing their skills and eagerly working to support their families along with their husbands. Gradually with the passage of time, women were observed participating actively in different fields. According to United States Department of Labor, around 74 percent of women are working full time in different part of States. However, we cannot ignore that opting for a particular career is solely a woman’s decision but a woman’s career choice could be an outcome of the influence of different social factors. Childhood Socialization and Family influence: Gender roles and expectations of the society start establishing even before the child can actually understand his/her identity or learn about his/her personality. From early childhood, females are dressed in gender specific colors (pink) and they are given gender specific toys (dolls) to play with. This is a clear example of how our society behaves and discriminate children on the basis of their gender from an early childhood stage. We know that social play an important role in developing a girl’s view of her identity and her future role in the society as a home maker. From an early childhood, girls are either intentionally or unintentionally forced by the families to be polite and soft, to have motherly nature and to spend more of their time in servicing other people. Perhaps, this is one of the main reasons that these girls are encouraged to pursue careers such as teaching, nurses, secretary or enter in other humanitarian services. However, the limit to this discrimination doesn’t end here. Even in schools, girls who opt for science and mathematics as their subjects of interests are often ridiculed by their peers. It is a common thought in our society that girls are weaker in science and mathematics and hence, these subjects are not “made” for them to study with keen interest (Mendoza, 2011). To abide by all the rules and principles set by the society according to gender roles in sometimes harsh to follow. As a result, it has been observed that majority of the girls are found weaker in subjects like science and mathematics and when they enter high school, their command on these subjects is weaker than their male peers. Therefore, these girls find it hard to obtain a degree or pursue a career based on such subjects. On the other hand, recently different schools and teachers have stressed upon girls to break the traditional approach in making a career choice for themselves and by developing their interest in subjects like mathematics and science. Traditional Role Models: In the past, women were given limited career choices which resulted in limited approach in their future generations about the women with outstanding careers. It has been observed that women are more likely to get influenced by other successful women in traditional pink collar jobs. Such influence encourages these women to select and excel in the same career. Therefore, instead of creating a different career path for themselves; these women follow the footsteps of other successful women and adopt the traditional career choice. As a result, society has greatly diminished the role and contributions of those women who adopted their careers on the basis of science and mathematics. With the passage of time, girls started perceiving that they would be more successful in adopting traditional pink collar jobs as compare to making any other career choice. However, a woman’s direct interaction with her external environment can greatly influence her in breaking the wall of traditional career choices. It has also been noticed that these little girls are also indirectly influenced by the career choices made by their mothers, relatives and other female counterparts (Sumner and Pettorelli, 2011). It is a common fact that environment and particular role models play an important role in determining the career choice for a woman. Choosing the right career path also depends on certain characteristics and values present in a role model that might influence a female. For example, a particular woman on a powerful position can be considered as a role model who by a girl, and therefore, it is more likely that power may influence the girl to acquire the same position. In short, we can say that role models can be considered as guides in defining a particular career choice for a woman or a girl. Motherhood and Career Choice: It is often difficult for a working mother to establish a balance between her career and her family. In our society, women are expected to fulfill most of the primary responsibilities in managing her family. As a result, majority of women seek such careers in which they could establish a balance between their family life and career. On the other hand, women who take up the challenge of pursuing a non-traditional career choice are often observed growing professionally and excelling in their careers as compare to other women. But, we cannot ignore the fact that such women are seen under high pressure enforced by the society on their shoulders and they often face discrimination. Discrimination: Women who refuse to adopt nontraditional careers are often discriminated and discouraged by the society which adversely affects their career progress. For example, a woman who desires to become a construction worker is less likely to receive any or no acknowledgement by the society. Such women are degraded by the people, ignored or sexually harassed by their employers or male counterparts (Ortiz and Roscigno, 2009). Therefore, it is quite expected that such women may change their career path and can be seen switching their careers from nontraditional roles to traditional ones. In other cases, this discrimination can adversely affect on their self esteem which could result on their performance and they may lose their jobs. However, in most of the cases due to discrimination, majority of women avoid taking up the nontraditional careers or roles. However, there is only a fraction of women in this society who prefer taking up the challenges, raising their voices against discrimination and breaking the unforeseen barriers. As a result, we could observe women effectively playing their role in mainstream as a CEO of any multinational corporation, governor of any state or as a scientist. Role of Media: Media has played a significant role in establishing social norms and defining social norms in a society. In past few years, media has effectively highlighted and appreciated the contributions of women in major walks of life. Media has effectively created awareness in the minds of people about women empowerment. Media has positively projected women as role models for other women to derive inspiration and break the barriers surrounding them (Quimby and DeSantis, 2006). Conclusion: From years, women are suppressed by the society which has limited their progress and role. Because of this open discrimination, women are seen selecting traditional choices as compare to other women who took up the challenge to fit themselves into nontraditional roles. We cannot deny the fact that women acquiring traditional career choices are either influenced by their female family relatives such as mothers or they follow the footsteps of their roles models already working in traditional roles. Women picking nontraditional roles are often discriminated by the people and the society, at large. As a result, it has been observed that due to this open discrimination and unjust reactions; it is more likely that women would prefer to stay in their traditional careers. However, with the growing awareness as created by the media, it is expected that women would make a fine choice in selecting the right career for themselves as inspired by the progress and lives of other successful women. This would help the women to progress out of their traditional roles, end the discrimination and harassment against themselves and would excel without any barriers hindering their way. List of References: Mendoza, S 2011, 'Can 'Word Choices' Compromise a Woman's Career?', Education Digest, 77, 2, pp. 62-64, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 20 January 2012. Ortiz, S, & Roscigno, V 2009, 'DISCRIMINATION, WOMEN, AND WORK: Processes and Variations by Race and Class', Sociological Quarterly, 50, 2, pp. 336-359, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 20 January 2012. Quimby, J, & DeSantis, A 2006, 'The Influence of Role Models on Women's Career Choices', Career Development Quarterly, 54, 4, pp. 297-306, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 20 January 2012. Sumner, S, & Pettorelli, N 2011, 'The high cost of being a woman', New Scientist, 211, 2821, pp. 26-27, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 20 January 2012. Read More