The Existence of Gender Inequality - Research Paper Example

The Existence of Gender Inequality al Affiliation Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 II Gender Inequality according to Sociologists 4 a)It is the surrounding systems that affect human behavior. 4 b)Institutional structures 5 c) Individual social cognition 5 III. Social Value and Norms 6 IV. Masculine Positions 7 V. Functionalist perspective on gender inequity 7 a)Gender Inequity 8 b)Functionalist perspective disregards the suppression of women. 9 VI. The conflict perspective on gender inequity 9 a). Symbolic interactions theory 10 VII. Conclusion 10 Abstract The subject of gender inequality has often taken center stage in most societies. Debates are centered on the equality between girls and boys. However, as much as these findings seem legitimate, there are also growing concerns on the real impact of gender inequality to the society. Other societies have increased commitment on the girl child, hence leaving the boy child almost locked out. The incoming research will be investigating the existence of gender inequality in the society, more so at the professional level. The research will clarify that even though there have efforts to minimize gender inequality the situation cannot be regarded as perfect. The research will prove that gender inequality manifests itself since there is subsequent believes that inequality is appropriate. Introduction To commence with, gender presents a hidden disparity between individuals. As well, gender is based on a complex properly constructed social form of interactions as well as, biologically through chromosomes, hormonal differences and brain structure. Grown (2005, p. 43) views that the nature of gender leads to the creation of inequality, which manifests in diverse methods of daily life has far more reaching distinctions made between males and females and differential treatment is indicated on gender inequality. In such a context, there are weakness-focused on why men should attend to negative stereotypes of women and behave in sexist ways toward their female subordinates. Reflectively, the cultural stereotypes contain information about the strengths that women possess. These strengths are contextually irrelevant, and in most cases these strengthens of women into nurturing, communal contribution and caring. The research will invite some theories to ensure that a vivid theoretical idea is generated. In particular, functionalism and conflict theories are responsive to the study since they tend to be macro-sociological theories, which focus on the broad institutional structure of society to explain gender relations. From such an argument, Ivez (2009, p. 43) is under the view that sociologists have engaged a direct focus on social interaction as a context for understanding gender. Supportively, Worell (2001, p. 53) believes that in most societies male superiority and female inferiority, which was disputed by the traditional acceptance of social roles. Concerning the theoretical assessment, the research will also be proving that the culture of dominance relies on the myth that males are superior and by virtue of this fact they dominate and protect all those who are inferior, women inclusive. Women are inferior and vulnerable hence they are considered peacemaker and caregiver. II Gender Inequality according to Sociologists As noted from the above justification, theories of gender inequality present a significant dispute about the experiences of women and men, which will guide attempts to address the persistent gender injustice. Sociology provides the major theoretical framework. This provides answers about to feminist scholars that also have that found out traditional perspectives in the discipline that is inadequate to address. Convincingly, gender is not an attribute of different people, but a functional suggestion. Sociologists have proved that the norm is constantly recreated through a complex existing social order. a) It is the surrounding systems that affect human behavior. Given that the study of gender is becoming a central sociological enterprise, sociology could accommodate biological sources of gender which might turn out that the biological sources are mainly addictive to the sociological sources of gender variance. Reflectively, Miller (2015, p. 463) analyzes that today’s sociologists would show little interest in the possible accommodation. The influence of human behavior has far-reaching concerns on how gender is nurtured. Thus, in context, gender and family influence models that are both central to sociology and are currently the subject of finding from biological studies that contradict prevailing sociological models. b) Institutional structures From systems surrounding gender, there have, as well been institutional structures that have continued limiting women roles from that of men. While on one side the situation is more complex and resistant to change, on an optimist’s role, there is increased competition for a desirable position that performs different unpaid tasks that have traditionally been done. These limits include housework, elder care, nursing, nurturing a child care. These institutional structures have hampered women progress over time. As well, social roles and rules that encourage men to achieve in corporate arena continue relegating women at home. Problems emerge from their differences in innate biology or their early socialization and training. To better understanding institutional structures, the research incorporate the individual deficit model. The model establishes that women traits make women unfit for certain functions such as management. Convincingly, women inferior positions have been explained by their deficits in motivation, with personality development and necessary traits such as assertiveness and sensitivity to power issues become a crucial consideration. In a work environment, individual male co-workers are supervisors as well as considerable paying attention paid to men than to women. c) Individual social cognition Convincingly, social cognitive factors can be applied as stereotypes on the basis of responding to members that individual can use many strategies in responding to them. Decisively, prejudiced responses ensure that these strategies have positive effects on the nature of cognitive bonding. Arguably, optimism about the potential for control over prejudiced responses since there is a sufficient theoretical reason and empirical support which nullifies that stereotyping is generated. This indicates a senior attempt to champion men over women culturally. III. Social Value and Norms Reflectively, through the process of socialization within the family, or in education institutions as well as, other social spheres, boy and girls are conditioned to behave in certain ways and play different role in the society. In fact, they are encouraged to conform to established norms. This is enhances by ruthlessness and continued domestication. Understandably, the place that women occupy in the society is normally through claims of innate predispositions. Thus, it becomes normal to stereotype that girls are naturally weaker than boys. As well, other norms, for instance, succession, labor, inheritance, property, and marriage often discriminate against women. These norms impede women successful development. For that reason, the economic independence of women becomes a major stage in bridging inequalities, preventing violence and fostering self-esteem. Reflectively, the noted inequalities clearly show that stereotypes against women are socially deeply entrenched. Supportively, Estevez-Abe (2009) indicates that gender inequality manifests itself in a number of spheres within the family, political, judicially, the labor market as well as, cultural, ideological productions. Heavily, values, practices and norms enshrined in domains of social interactions contribute to fostering inequalities that reinforce gender-related power differentials that increase violence against women. For example, the cultural practice of son preference might contribute to the denial of girl access to education and curtail their opportunities in life. IV. Masculine Positions Given traditional injustices against women as the junior gender, there have been considerable inequalities at professional levels. Up to date, politics and the corporate sphere are naturally controlled by men, with women coming in as the second force. In most cases, there lack an appropriate equation one that guarantees expressive leadership, either male or female. However, the power of choices ensures that important natural constraints are avoided. These constrain include occupation gender segregation, the glass ceiling, gendered wage gap, the imbalance of political power, primarily those based on the second shift. Nonetheless, given that women experience a glass ceiling that they can never go beyond, organizations will continue lacking an instrumental leader who is female in this case. Sustainably, Magidimisha and Gordon (2014, p. 17) believe that despite their large number of female teachers, the majority of authority positions, superintendents and principals hold a senior position occupied by males. Through institutional discrimination, women make considerably less money than men, averaging only about 65 percent of what men make. V. Functionalist perspective on gender inequity Decisively, globalization of gender has resulted in the interaction between gender relations. As such, globalization has directed the the discourse on gender inequality. Estevez-Abe (2009, p. 182) indicates that gender is a socially created concept that attributes differing social roles and identities to men and women. Functional approach is applied to understand a system of interlinked parts which, when in balance operate smoothly to produce a given sense of solidarity. The functionalists and functionalists inspired perspective on gender seek to show that gender differences contribute to social stability and integration. a) Gender Inequity The concept is when the interests generated by economic and political power are separated from interest generated by gender inequality. Beneria and Permanyer (2010, p. 377) argue that the development of economic and political organization produced the separation of interests. Reflectively, gender inequality dissociates from economic and political inequality. In fact, such an approach allows organizations to accumulate more social power, actions and responsive interests which becomes increasingly indifferent to people’s gender. These gender inequalities result from a combination of several factors. Amongst are existing gender inequalities in employment and the labor market are reflected in perpetuated policies. For example, in a pension system, women are less likely to be covered by pension systems, and if they are they tend to receive lower pension benefits than men. Particular social groups or segments As noted, there are a variety of organizational cultures and vocabulary primary used to make a sense of what is going on. Isaacs (1995) establishes that work hierarchies especially in private sector are male dominated, where responsibilities are passed to others. In fact, Doyle and Timonen (2010, p. 29) further believes that long workers cultures passes on care responsibilities to others. Men hold the stereotype that they work longer than women in most cases. The composite measure on most subscales proved that there is no gender differences perceived important to various relationship qualities. Compared to men, women are less likely to report that their expectations about standards for a successful relationship. In special cases, there are gaps, generating socio-economic differences with women at the bottom of paying a charge price for taking family responsibilities seriously. In fact, adopting a male model of working life means that there will be long working hours since men do not have care responsibilities. Women support themselves as individual providing for their old age while taking responsibilities for their children and others. Thus, the lines are innately drowned that women assume the domestic roles while men assume the corporate role. b) Functionalist perspective disregards the suppression of women. Although feminists argue that such a division is not inherently functional, the purpose of keeping women economically dependent on men is gaining subsequent influence. With time, the family has served as an exploitative system of labor relations. In fact, the unpaid housework if often incorrectly compared with directly to unpaid work, and if properly acknowledged it speeds up within the context of the public economic system. Hession (2009) further argues that comparison ignores the relations of power within the family in which women are often dependent upon on men, who in turn abuse these powers. Significantly, women are vulnerable to this system since the case of employment does not normally seek a new family if working conditions are unfavorable. A principle component is the feminist critique of the institution of marriage and the two-parent heterosexual family which indicates the ideology support and enforces family structures. VI. The conflict perspective on gender inequity Supportively, conflict theorists; see women as disadvantaged by power inequities between women and men. These theories are built in the social structure, which includes economic inequity and a disadvantage in political and social systems. According to theorists, wage inequalities are produced from the power that men have historically had to devalue from their power that benefit as a group from the services that women labor provides. Largely, conflict theorist have been much more attuned to the interactions of race, class and gender inequalities since they fundamentally pursue different forms of inequality as stemming from differential access to resources. a). Symbolic interactions theory The need to interpret different kinds of behavior concerning normative gender, further justifies the discussion on interactivity. Hence, the actual content of gender primarily defined as masculinity and femininity varies across time, situation and space. Several feminist sociolinguistic and social psychologists focus on how symbolic nonverbal communication reinforce on male privilege on interpersonal interactions. VII. Conclusion From the concluded research, gender inequality exists in a variety of forms. These include stereotypes, practices, examples, and norms amongst others. Accordingly, the research has proved that gender inequality manifests itself since there are subsequent believes that inequality is appropriate. The research has clarified that even though there have been efforts to minimize gender inequality the situation cannot be regarded as perfect. As such, gender inequality is understood as a right and not as a phenomenon. In summary, research should attempt to inter-connect social, economic and political failures to such beliefs and manifestations. References Beneria, L., & Permanyer, I. (2010). The Measurement Of Socio-economic Gender Inequality Revisited. Development and Change, 375-399. Doyle, M., & Timonen, V. (2010). Obligations, Ambitions, Calculations: Migrant Care Workers Negotiation of Work, Career, and Family Responsibilities. Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society, 29-52. Estevez-Abe, M. (2009). Gender, Inequality, and Capitalism: The "Varieties of Capitalism" and Women. Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society, 182-191. Grown, C. (2005). Taking action achieving gender equality and empowering women. London: Earthscan. Hession, J. (2009). Women in the modern workplace gender barriers to business start-ups. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars. Isaacs, E. (1995). Gender discrimination in the workplace: A literature review. Communications of the ACM, 58-59. Magidimisha, H., & Gordon, S. (2014). Profiling South African gender inequality in informal self-employment. Journal of Gender Studies, 1-18. Miller, D. (2015). Symbolic Capital and Gender: Evidence from Two Cultural Fields. Cultural Sociology, 462-482. Worell, J. (2001). Encyclopedia of women and gender: Sex similarities and differences and the impact of society on gender. San Diego, Calif.: Academic Press. Lvez, L. (2009). Gender and well-being in Europe historical and contemporary perspectives. 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