Gender Equality - Research Paper Example

Gender Equality: A Lesson to Learn Abstract This paper discusses gender equality as an issue in the present society. In the discussion, the paper will seek to present evidence on how male gender dominates the female gender in nearly all activities in many work places. This argument leads to the debate whether gender biases exist in work places. It is arguable that female and male are able to show similar characteristics when performing their duties. However, representation in many jobs shows dominance by a single gender. Further, debate on treatment of various genders in work places helps to test whether equality exists in the society. Introduction The rate at which gender equality has raised hot debate in the present generation confirms the argument that gender equality in workplace is not a strange thing, but tends to bring a negative impression when debate on gender equality crops (Riddell, & Tett, 2010). Many people believe that gender equality is a fact and not a myth. However, some people have been able to carry the myth beyond by exercising it in work places. In this project paper, I intend to focus on gender equality debate from the perspective of an educator in college setting. In the research, I hope receive various views on whether women and men feel that equality exists within their workplace. Further the study would also test whether both gender feel equally treated, or to ascertain extent inferior to the opposite sex. Literature Review While in college, many students assume that they will not experience gender discrimination. However, this expectation does not seem to reflect the trends observed in many workplaces today. The focus of this article focuses on the assumption made by college student that gender discrimination or issues related to gender discrimination in workplaces do not exist. This article gives an explanation to the research conducted in various workplaces to college students. The explanation provided by this article to college students creates understanding on their perception of gender equality. Further, it explains how they will enter a gender-neutral workplace. The article will demonstrate how the attitude toward gender equality in a workplace is losing its sheen as an important employment standard (Sipe, Johnson, & Fisher, 2009). This article discusses the balance of women and men in the educational setting. It looks at factors that have contributed to decline on male teaching staff in the teaching profession. In addition, this article argues the above statement by examining possible effect that this may have an affect on the work environment with disproportioned masculinity of men. The parameters used in the research tend to express similar concern on the role of gender in shaping workplace vacancies. The idea that this disparity provides an opportunity for tensions in gender quality and policy making within the educational environment is part of its concern (Sipe, Johnson, & Fisher, 2009). It is important to point out that the author of this article addressed issues touching on how power relation and career paths influenced teaching industry. Other concerns covered in this article include the definition of gender and the perception given to it by women and men. Arguably, different people assert different meanings given individual or societal approach given to this matter (Geske, 2006). Notably, the paper addresses root meaning of gender, which is the basis of its focus, and how women and men perceive the classification of gender. Generally, explanations in this article would not be adequate if it does not touch on eight dimensions of gender and their correlation to characteristics associated with either woman or man. Further, the author looks at the relation of how what women and men define equal characteristic as well as the impact of labeling. The sources I chose to use for this project did a great job in recognizing and explaining gender equality and perception of gender variances from both the standpoint of teachers, college students, and researchers. Gender equality is an issue that most campaign for adamantly but too silently. Society is almost compliant with minor inequality situations. To stay silent and not voice concern over gender equality within any workplace leaves room for not progression, but regression. Women should not have to feel they must prove their worth simply based on old beliefs and stereotypes of self. Men on that same note should not feel that there is a superiority status attached to their masculinity. If workplaces took the time to ask both men and women about gender equality and made changes based off the answers they receive, the workplace could become a neutral environment and not a gladiator forum so to speak (Riddell, & Tett, 2010). Methodology In this project, I intended to test the hypothesis: women feel gender inequality affects them more than men in the workplace. In my attempt to test the above hypothesis, I made the following assumptions. First, I argued that the view of teaching as more of a feminine occupation would influence men to say they feel there are no issues with policies and attitudes toward gender equality. Second assumption in this project argued that that the women I survey will feel their ideas and opinions are inferior compared to their male educators. Largely, assumption made before and during this project steered the research towards achieving its objective. Since the method adopted in data collection influence the result of the research work, I decided to conduct a primary research. It is arguable that primary sources of information usually provide a clear picture on the real situation on the ground. Using this argument as the base of my research work, I decided to develop a question, which I used to interview various workers I met in college. The choice of questionnaire was because of its uniformity in data collected. Another advantage of using questionnaire is that data processing is easy and fast. I interviewed twenty educators in high school setting. A break down of educators interviewed was ten females and ten males using a questionnaire, which asked similar questions. The interviewed had two choices to choose from in each question I asked. Major areas that research questioned covered in references to gender equality included, but not limited to what male or female prefer as their bosses, treatment given to various gender in the workplace, individual perception on gender equality in workplace, and gender based biases when discharging duties among other questions. Research result indicated that 60 percent of the female interviewed felt that gender inequality existed in job preferences while male counterparts felt equality treated. When I asked preference on gender preference on job supervisor 80 percent female respondent indicated that they preferred male bosses. Half of the group interviewed preferred male bosses and some did not care about the gender of their bosses. When I asked the group about their bosses, I got 71% respondent from both groups. 50% of the male and 80% of female indicated that their bosses were male. Twenty nine percent of the group indicated that their bosses were female. When I asked about how gender biases affected promotion opportunities 42% of the respondent felt that gender biases would infringe their opportunity to advance. When I asked about any form of discrimination in the workplace 28% of the respondent stated that they had been discriminated. Forty percent of this respondent was female. Discussion It is apparent from the above result that gender discrimination existed in workplaces. Female gender bear the brunt of discrimination with a few position in workplaces reserved for female bosses. It is also evident that promotion in the workplace hinged on gender discrimination. This is not healthy to the future generation given the advancement of technology and diversity. The result of this research revealed that the assumption that some women feel inferior is true because 80% of women preferred male bosses. It is also evident from the research result that men did not feel deprived of their rights by women. However, it is arguable that women can perform various roles as men. It is probable that some gender stereotypes have contributed to discrimination observed. For instance, preference of male bosses by women is evidence that gender stereotypes influence gender equality in the society. Social theories in Gender Structural functionalist approach to gender biases argues that pre-industrialization era promoted gender based labor system. In this case, women took care of their homes while their husband went out to look for food. However, industrialization has made structural functionalist argument null. Conflict theorists believe male dominance in workplaces supports gender inequality (Aguirre & Turner, 2009). Where many people purport that female are inferior and would only have a place at home. On the other hand, symbolic integrationist view claims that people learn their gender roles from childhood through schools (Aguirre & Turner, 2009). These theories can help to explain the above responses that I received during the survey. Feminist perspective to gender biases argues that biological differences in female and male do not limit human ability to perform any given task (Aguirre & Turner, 2009). In this argument gender is perceive subject propagated by human understanding. Further, Queer theory argues that people must engage in some work in order to lead a sustainable and meaningful life (Aguirre & Turner, 2009). It is evident that life ceases to have its meaning when people cannot work. Split labor theory argues that people group themselves in the labor market according to their communities (Aguirre & Turner, 2009). In this research, I argued that women tend to group themselves in a specific career, which is evident from their response during the research. Arguably, this contributes to gender discrimination in workplaces. Summary The research on gender equality clearly indicates that element of gender in equality still exists in workplaces. This is contrary what college students believe today. Women have taken active role in social development through their contributions, which they offer through various jobs they do. Women are able to perform in various workplaces as men in the society thus rubbishing gender stereotypes. As explained in Queer theory societal development does not hinge on the contribution of men a lone in the job places, but also on the role of women in the same places. This research paper recommends a fifty-fifty basis in job distribution. Social growth and sustainability would only occur when gender discrimination does not influence choices made in the job market. It also recommends gender sensitization in order to influence stereotypes to change their views about job allocation. References Aguirre, A. & Turner, J. (2009) American ethnicity: The dynamics and consequences of discrimination. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Geske, D. A. A. (2006). Towards a Fresh Start in Measuring Gender Equality: A Contribution to the Debate. Journal Of Human Development, 7(2), 275-283. doi:10.1080/14649880600768660 Retrieved on 14 Mar 2012 from http://content.ebscohost.com.library.capella.edu/pdf18_21/pdf/2006/9DK/01Jul06/22018267.pdf?T=P&P=AN&K=22018267&S=R&D=aph&EbscoContent=dGJyMMvl7ESep7A4wtvhOLCmr0mep7NSs6m4SLGWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGvr0%2Byra9PuePfgeyx9X3g Riddell, S., & Tett, L. (2010). Gender balance in teaching debate: tensions between gender theory and equality policy. International Journal Of Inclusive Education, 14(5), 463-477. doi:10.1080/13603110802522541 Retrieved on 14 Mar 2012 from http://content.ebscohost.com.library.capella.edu/pdf23_24/pdf/2009/JEB/01Jul09/41891187.pdf?T=P&P=AN&K=41891187&S=R&D=aph&EbscoContent=dGJyMMvl7ESep7A4wtvhOLCmr0mep7NSrqq4SbKWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGvr0%2Byra9PuePfgeyx9X3g Sipe, S., Johnson, C., & Fisher, D. K. (2009). University Students' Perceptions of Gender Discrimination in the Workplace: Reality Versus Fiction. Journal Of Education For Business, 84(6), 339-349. Retrieved 14 Mar 2012 from http://content.ebscohost.com.library.capella.edu/pdf23_24/pdf/2009/JEB/01Jul09/41891187.pdf?T=P&P=AN&K=41891187&S=R&D=aph&EbscoContent=dGJyMMvl7ESep7A4wtvhOLCmr0mep7NSrqq4SbKWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGvr0%2Byra9PuePfgeyx9X3g Read More