Gender Disparities and Pay Gap in Stem - Essay Example

Gender Disparities and Pay Gap in Stem Gender stratification often encompasses all the aspects of a person’s social life cutting across the social classes. As such, it relates the probabilities of both genders to the unequal access to property, power and prestige due to the sex differences. This area of interest explores social patterns coupled with cultural practices. When one dives into the mechanics of society workings, certain features are common to each and every community. In connection to this, there also exist differences in characteristics, traditions and customs. More particularly the differences observed in institutions of learning concerning the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics clearly points out this extended form of stratification. Gender identity is the classification of one as either male or female. It is how an individual sees himself or herself. It is the apparent manifestations that result from the personality of an individual. It has the ability to reflect on ones gender identity. Gender identity is self identified and results from intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Many at times gender identity can be confused with gender roles. The latter denotes behavior manifested by factors acquired through observation; this can be exemplified by behavior and appearance. Thus, the gender role is often an outward expression of a person’s gender identity. This article will endeavor to expound on such differences, however, the focus will be on gender identities, sexual practices and gendered bodies. With this goal in mind, five articles will be analyzed so as to quench the thirst on these three factors. Analysis It has been pointed out that negative stereotypes instigated by parents to their children eventually affect the performance of the girls in the field of science technology, engineering and math’s (Shapiro and Williams 178). Considering the sociological perspective of the stereotypes it has been depicted that such forms of stereotypes have a negative influence on the performance of girls in the STEM fields. An analysis of the performance of female exposed to stereotypes reveals that they perform poorer in STEM fields even though they have the potential. It should be note that when women are exposed to stereotypic threatening conditions they become inefficient in their activities. Of much concern is the relation between performance and stereotypes. As such, studies have pointed out that subjecting women to stereotypic conditions often evokes destructive thoughts that focus on the projected negative outcome (Broyles 215). In addition, women careers are affected by stereotypes such that they tend to focus on art relate fields as opposed to STEM It has also been pointed out that the career of a woman often affected by the existing inequalities as such gender barriers have in the society have made it difficult for women to achieve equal levels of human capital. In addition shifts in responsibilities have played a role in preventing women from achieving their education as well as job experience. Women are always contemplating on balance between their jobs having a family. Thus, having a divided mind reduces focus on education and the job market (Xu 145). Women inclination on arts opposed to science is one of the major causes of the widening gap between men and women. Considering the impact of informal professional networking it can be pointed out that women find it difficult to balance between family and the responsibilities of work. As such the nature of the work is time involving making women to be disadvantaged in overall the field. It has been note that networking helps one to achieve an upper hand in terms of getting funding as well as professional guidance. It has also been pointed out that networking helps one to achieve professional support through socialization with the top colleagues who provide for the guiding principles and norms. Additionally networking helps to achieve social and moral solidarity as well as develop workplace bonding which is often gained through the support of the informal networks. In addition IPNs are meant to provide role models for the female. The technicalities involve in the science fields often drives women out of the field. Some women have been reported revealing that they would rather prefer to start a family as than join the noble field. By and large women of color have had difficulties in the STEM field. Notably women are face with a number of challenges where they are neglected A number of initiatives have been put in place to encourage women to join the science field. These interventions have been based on the assumptions that an exposure to a competent and successful role model will eventually improve the performance of a girl child since she will admire to join the ranks of her role model. Exposing women to computer scientists as well as engineers helps to eliminate stereotypes an instead foster a collaborative working among the two genders. However, portrayal of scientists as people living on the extreme and socially awkward as well as lacking relationship skills reduces the chances of women from joining such fields. Notably, encouraging of women to join computer science is beneficial since it allows the incorporation of the women perspectives as well as contributions brought by computer science to the general society. As such, it helps to elevate the standards of women. It is worthy while to mention that computer science offers more courses as opposed to physical and mathematical courses thus it provides more allowance for women to join the STEM field (Cheryan, Dury, and Vichayapa 56). However joining the STEM field is not just a matter of computer science but it is the guidance by a role model that propels women to join the field. STEM has been considered to be a man’s field As such, men view STEM as a male’s only endeavor. This ought to be regarded as male chauvinism. The American society best exemplifies this by aligning STEM with the male sex. Society has accepted the notion that the brazen nature of male dominated STEM field is proof enough that it should not be associated with women in any sense. This stereotypical approach has also been adopted by advertisers. A close look at the transformation of the advertisement from a decade ago gives elaboration on this issue. Society has, since the dawn of time, associated STEM with the success of men in terms of aggressiveness. There apparently seems to be something about the adrenalin that comes out the feeling of doing difficult subjects. To give assumptions why this is the case will be to indulge into the creation of conjectures without content. As such, this writer will refrain from such endeavors such wild endeavors. To cement this fact, the men have and are willing to rest their gender identity on these two practices. In carrying out a study on social stratification it is important to study the influence of race, class as well as gender on the opportunities presented. The underlying principles and attitudes need to be examined in order to understand the level of social mindfulness. Gender socialization plays a key role in social stratification towards equality in men, as well as, women in all aspects including STEM proper relations are inevitable (Shapiro and Williams 56). For instance, women relating well with university professors and role models are more likely to picked on in the field originally thought to be a man’s field (Sax 35). Men and women are expected to build their careers differently. This arises from different biological and psychological makeup that characterizes both genders. As such, different societies construct gendered language using a number of different avenues. It is the way a society expects its male and females to behave and conduct themselves. The construction of gendered bodies results in admiration. Individuals who are able to fashion themselves in a way, become the center of attraction in their respective societies. Men have been epitomized in a number of situations. In the context of women, a gendered body linked with family life. This construction of gendered language is distinctively dissimilar to the mode via which men achieve dominance on the assumed weaker sex. Examining the male base generics which are often seen as an indicator as well as a reinforce of the system in which women are perceived to be weaker. Indeed language reflects the reality and thus it is important to reconsider the words uttered. This is a step towards achieving equality in the unequal gender arrangements that are in existence. Media has played a key role on the gender stratification the portrayal of certain roles as being masculine has caused women to avoid pursuing certain fields (Riegle-Crumb and Barbara 73). In addition sexism being portrayed by the media makes women to feel inferior or rate themselves negatively. It should be noted that sexism is associated with inequality among the genders. More particularly, it results in the differences in the work place especially in comparable jobs. Conclusion Men and women are expected to build their bodies differently. This arises from different biological and psychological makeup that characterizes both genders. As such, different societies construct gendered bodies using a number of different avenues. It is the way a society expects its male and females to behave and conduct themselves. Take, for example, the Israeli society; every citizen is expected to pass through the military. Though, women are expected to serve a shorter period in the military as compared to men. The training they receive prepares them for the later years. Some often choose to stick to military life and pursue it as a lifelong career. Those who do are valued in high esteem in the society. This is exemplified in the Military as a Second Bar Mitzvah, when the author, Danny Kaplan researches the life of Nir, a gay soldier. Though gay, his friends see him as “the man” owing to his military service. Nir is living according to society expectations of the ideal man. The military is playing a vital role in fashioning a gendered body out of him. This is irrespective of him being gay. As discussed in this essay, it can be eluded that societies build themselves up in many different ways. As such, the cultures and traditions they choose to adopt cannot be hinged on what another society chooses. This distinct difference creates a diversity that should be embraced. It seems clear that societies use different means of constructing their gender identity, sexual practices and gendered bodies. These societal practices and acceptance have to a number of times determined the roles of men and women in the society. Work Cited Broyles, Philip.The gender pay gap of STEM professions in the United States. International Journal of sociology and social policy. 2009:29 214-236 Cheryan, Sapna, Dury, Benjamin and Vichayapa, Marissa. Enduring influence of stereotypical computer science role models on women academic performance. Journal of psychology of women Quarterly. 2012: 37(1) 72-79 Riegle-Crumb, Catherine and Barbara King. Questioning white males advantaged in STEM: Examining disparities within college major by gender and race/ethnicity. Educationresarcher. 2010:39:656 Sax, Linda. An impassioned call to action for gender equity in STEM. Springer. 2013: 68: 397-399 Shapiro, Jenessa and Williams, Amy. The role of stereotype threats in undermining girls and women performance and interest in STEM fields. 2012:66175-183 Xu JJade, Yonghong. Gender disparity in STEM discipline: A study of Faculty Attrition and Turnover intentions. Springer science. 2008:49: 607-624 Read More