Gender Equality in the Historical Context - Literature review Example

Running header: Gender Equality Client inserts his/her name Tutor’s name Name of institution Course title Date of submission Gender equality in the Historical context and development since 1911 and significant changes in the 1970s In reference to Wood (2005), since time immemorial disparities between the two sexes have been in existent. Gender is an aspect that is socially constructed although it is a biological determination given to individuals due to chromosomes and hormones. In African communities for instance, gender is a dichotomous system which is observed in gender systems and it reflects inequalities in many life dimensions. Inequality thus arises from differences that are either empirically or socially established. Since 1911, the status of women in the society has since taken a positive direction. During this time, women were not allowed to take part in most of the social cultural aspects of the society. Many writers at this time such as Spencer in her issue ‘Women’s Share, in Social Culture,’ emphasized on the need for gender equality. Women no longer shut up at home, and they engaged in public activities such that they were part of the public society which once belonged to men only. The rights that women lacked started to be addressed publicly which soon became a national issue in many nations. (Wood, 2005). In 1845, women were accrued equal inheritance rights as men although not many societies practiced the proposition on the ground. In the following years, widows and unmarried women were allowed to work in business and trade activities. Careers were left for men previously although, in 1859, women were allowed to take up teaching positions in education institutions. Moreover, women gained the right to further their education to diploma level in private institutions and eventually they could take degrees despite exceptions in fields such as law, medicine and engineering in 1870. Things were becoming better in the 1900’s when women could be elected to parliament with more inclusion to civil jobs. In 1927, girls were admitted to secondary schools just like their counterparts. With equal education rights accrued to women, equal job opportunities were rising with equal basic pensions adopted for both genders. Towards 1950’s, contraception was legalized with birth control methods used to manage the growing population. (UNDP, 2005). In the traditional African society in the 18th and 19th century, the role of child rearing an upbringing was solely a woman’s role. Some of the changes noted above were not applied in many societies that were resistant to change although others embraced them. Throughout history, women were not allowed to take up careers such that they can stay at home to take care of their husbands, and children especially in the African societies. This has since changed, and a more equitable society was coming up since 1911. The role of women according to the society has changed, and families have adopted different ways that strike a balance between the role of men and women in child rearing. This balance is significant since it allows for strong child upbringing which creates a better society in the long run. The society’s influence on the structure of the family was slowly declining towards gender equality. In other words, families had become more democratic. In regards to UN Women (2011), 1970 was a decade of numerous improvements in the gender equality policies and agreements. Most secondary schools around the globe adopted new curriculums that encouraged better equal opportunities for both genders. Many women were taking part in political activities and most of them secured seats in governments although they could not be equal to men in similar positions. Additionally UN Women (2011) indicates that in 1975, the women’s year as established by the UN which also carried the new abortion laws in which a woman was women the right to decide on the same up to the 18th week of pregnancy. This was, however, received relatively by various societies and religions as well as cultures which seem not to agree on that issue to date. Towards 1980, employees and unions were made to align their operations towards allowing for equal opportunities. Moreover, child rearing was made a collective responsibility although not many societies could allow the six hour day for both parents. (Hurst, 2007). Despite numerous responses and perceptions of communities, cultures and religions, most of the changes have been approved and embraced. Education and job opportunities have been advanced to the better since many women are in careers today and they are not limited to any field. On the contrary, equality has not been achieved in the political scene although some nations have managed to have a woman as the head of state. Areas in which things have stalled or gone backwards for women’s rights as well as What needs to be improved to save the situation Despite the large strides made in attaining women rights in the recent past, various areas have not even moved towards achieving the much needed rights. Most nations do not portray that the women’s rights are achievable. Instead, they have stagnated the entire fight with other aspects going back drastically. Life is dynamic, and it is undergoing transitions always. However, the progress in women rights has taken a downbeat direction. A plateau is observable in aspects such as leadership, relational representation, educational achievement, religion and politics in regards to the women’s ability to contribute adequately and equally to social and cultural affairs. (Gaddis, 2007) According to World Bank (2001), the main area is identified in the leadership arena. Women all around the globe remain substantially underrepresented in the positions of leadership and power. In fact, all sectors of the economy have remarkably few women in the highest ranks. Consider sectors such as aerospace engineering, the film industry and the political dome, women are less than 10% although they are endowed with invaluable talents in all areas. Cotter et al (2000) argues that in the United States, women who are in the position of senator form only 17% while they form 16.8% of those in the House of Representatives. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court contains 6 men and 3 women while only 6 out of 50 governors are women. With the nations large cities, only nine percent of women are in the position of mayor. These statistics indicate that things have completely stalled in the leadership aspect since women highly sidelined. (Gaddis, 2007) Gaddis (2007) argues that, despite the advancements in the education sector that accommodate both men and women, total equality has not been attained especially in higher institutions of learning. In many nations all over the globe, women account for only 30% of the total populations found in colleges pursuing diplomas, degrees and MBAs. Worse still, in fields such as law, engineering and medicine, women are remarkably few which creates the imbalance observed later when practicing in the profession. On the other hand, women enter especially the law practice in large numbers although they do not move up in regards to leadership ranks and positions. Less than 1/5th of women are partners in law firms, federal judges and school deans in schools of law or counsels in law as indicated by Cotter et al (2000). Even in religion and theology, women form only 3% of those who present to congregations in churches. Moreover, the Catholic Church bans women from preaching completely. These facts indicate that equality has not yet been achieved throughout the decades. It is stuck somewhere, and the fight for women rights should continue if at all total liberation is to be achieved. (UNDP, 2005) According to Hurst (2007), progress has stalled on gender equality within the work force. The gap in earnings between male and females who take similar jobs is wide, and women are paid less in that regard. Women are employed in low paid industries and maintain low status jobs hence the stagnation in their progress towards equality. The reasons for such drawbacks are numerous, and they come up from other areas where women are overlooked such overindulgence in child care responsibilities, and lack of better and flexible options for work opportunities. On the other hand, stereotypes that exist within societies intensify such conditions through blame, abuse and labeling women as being timorous and that they lack poise. Women struggle to handle the family, motherhood responsibilities and careers. Obviously, women are bound to lack the fortitude to bargain over wages since they lack adequate support from the male counterparts at the family level as well as nationally. This consequently leads to the ever widening gap in male and female earnings. (Jacobs, 1995). The above discussion shows that the position of equal rights needs to be looked into, and the women rights have to be regained from their slugging position. In many nations, men are not enough to adequately man the jobs in all sectors of the economy. For instance, skills shortages are prevalent in the industries that are dominated by men such as in mining and the construction industries. The economy is being squeezed de to the aging population that needs to be replaced as soon as possible. Training thus needs to be offered indiscriminately such that men and women are equally prepared for all types of jobs. This could reduce the strain on the government budget that is observed by designing strategies that could see women being deployed in the workforce satisfactorily. Economists should view this movement as an economic necessity which may save not only the women’s rights, but also move the country towards economic advancement. (World Bank, 2001). Leadership representation can be improved as a result of educational development. Women should be employed in various sectors through their academic qualifications and ability. Promotions in the workplace should be based on merit and not because of the disparities that come with various sex orientations. Women are known to perform better, and there is no reason as to why they are denied the opportunity to exhibit their expertise in various parts of the economy. Since parenting and motherhood limits women from exploiting and pursuing their economic potential and value fully, this role should be shared among the two parents. In this regard, it is crucial for nations to offer social welfare incentives that support both parents to spend time with the children. A balance may be achieved between the parents in the way they distribute time for work and child rearing. It will eventually kill the stereotype held in many societies that men are the breadwinners, something which force women to give up their careers in order to take care of the family. This default by gender should be eradicated completely, and a balance be created for any person to pursue career ambitions. Everyone should acknowledge the fact that the society is dynamic, and it is bound to change with time. Therefore, the government, corporations, gender organizations and individuals should adapt to the upcoming social realities which may allow talented individuals to offer competitive employee relations without gender considerations. (European Commission, 2010). My vision for the future and the institutional changes, legislative changes and changes at the level of individual and societal values that need to occur to support the vision “Tradition should be a guide and not a jailer”, wrote W. Somerset Maugham. In that regards, we should not allow ourselves to disintegrate in traditions, we should only take the counsel in it. The future ought to look different in relation to the influence on gender roles in society. In my point of view, gender inequality hampers economic development in many developing countries and a serious transition have to be done in societal institutions, legislation and individualistic vies in that context, as well as societal values. According to the millennium goals, I share in the sentiment of promoting gender equality and empowering women by 2015 In reference to World Bank (2001), my future vision for gender equality achievement requires putting resources to women’s access while promoting equality at home and in the society as a whole. Some of the legislative changes that may support the vision include strengthening the labor and workplace policies that affect women, advocating for equal inheritance rights, promoting political rights and participation by setting policies that call for equal participation and expanding policies and laws involving reproductive health and family structure policies. (Drechsler et. al., 2008) In addition, key institutions need to change to accommodate women adequately. For instance, the constitutions of countries should contain provisions for equal women representations in parliament or government seats as well as laws governing such needs be drafted. Women rights need to be drafted and emphasized and protected by accompanying laws. Societal values that look down upon women should be scraped off. For instance, men and women should take equal responsibility in child rearing and family cares such that nobody among the two sacrifices his or her career. Stereotypes that denote that women are weak, and lack confidence should be viewed as baseless and not relied upon in giving roles to men and women. The positivity in societal values may give women adequate support to venture into what previously was meant for men only. (Hurst, 2007). According to Drechsler et. al. (2008), supporting agencies all around the globe should focus on coming up with forums that may reveal women’s experience with local customs and the impacts be shared and outlined publicly. In this manner, people will judge whether they are worthy or not in determining how women are viewed in the context of the society that designs such customs and values. I believe it will help in improving the information already available about the situation of women around the globe. Some facts may deter the previous perception such that large numbers of people come out to support women towards attaining equality by not clinging to the traditional values, and customs unreasonably. (European Commission, 2010). Conclusively, when everybody takes part in the learning experience, local institutions may arise in the venture for women rights achievement such as worker’s unions, business associations and other local or international associates who may assist in pressing further for change. This may garner more public support and remove the fears within people that change is impossible. Curtailing or eliminating gender disparities may be difficult but is particularly necessary in any society around the world. It calls for coherent, all inclusive and sensitive approaches to kill the economically profligate state of mind that denies women their rights and potential for development. References Cotter, D., Joan, H. & Reeve, V. (2000). The American People Census 2000: Gender Inequality at Work. New York: Russell Sage Foundation. Drechsler, D., Jütting, J. &Lindberg, C. (2008): “Gender, Institutions and Development – Better Data, Better Policies”, Poverty InFocus, UNDP Poverty Centre. European Commission (2010). European Gender Equality Law Review. Gaddis, R. (2007) Gender Equality in the United States: The Impossible Dream? Hurst, C. (2007). Social Inequality. 6th. Boston: Pearson Education. Jacobs, J. (1995). Gender Inequality at Work. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications. UNDP (2005). Report of the UN Task Force on Education and Gender Equality, New York. World Bank (2001), Engendering Development: Through Gender Equality in Rights, Resources And Voice, Washington. Wood, J. (2005). Gendered Lives. 6th. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning. Read More