Gender Stereotyping - Research Paper Example

Gender Stereotyping Gender Stereotyping Gender Stereotyping refers to the predetermined thoughts concerning capabilities and traits of women and men and how they behave on the basis of their respective gender. In places of employment, this stereotyping and segregation is mainly against the female gender. In the third world countries, for example, stereotyping in jobs is predominant. A mans consideration for employment is higher compared to their female counterparts. So women have no other alternative but to be concentrated in specific jobs associated with the female gender, which thus amounts to occupational segregation (Archer& Lloyd, 2002). Occupational segregation benefits the male gender in that they are flexible to change between different careers. On the other hand, the gender female occupation is rigid due limitation to working in only fixed job types, limiting their occupational mobility. Occupational segregation is solely implemented along these gender lines and stereotyping. In job advertisement in dailies, we often find that jobs advertised strictly indicated either ‘for men’ or ‘for females’. The condition here shows that females’ disqualification is certain in jobs indicated ‘for men’ and on the other hand men are excluded in occupations indicated ‘for females’. A general stereotype view is that males are mostly more efficient in their duties compared to females who are considered inferior. Women are assigned to do jobs requiring fewer skills and qualifications while those jobs that require particular skills and efficiency allocated to men. The persistence of this type of segregation of occupation cumulates to amount to gender stereotyping process. Men thus view women negatively as a less superior sex compared to them, making them look down upon women. The gender stereotypes process is originated and maintained by the persistence of occupational and job segregation (Cook & Cusack, 2010). The females are more disadvantaged because their limitation is to doing low-skilled jobs that are less skilled meaning they receive less payment while the males on the other side enjoy this segregation and get more rewarding jobs. You will thus observe that families headed by single women are often poor because of the low-income levels they bring home. Families headed by men are on the other hand well off and economically stable. The main reason women only do low-skilled, and part-time duties are because their housewives practices. As such when they are in the workplace they are seen to be extending their housewife duties to their job places that mainly involve marginal duties. People assume that women as people who are only supposed to perform marginal duties only that require no professional qualification. Hence, available marginal and part-time employment vacancies will always be dedicated to the females only. To establish the persistence of gender stereotyping in occupations and to evaluate its impact it is important to recognize areas where stereotyping is originating. Further, it is necessary to distinguish between occupational segregation and occupational stereotyping. Along these lines, we observe a contrast in segregation and stereotyping. Segregation existed when males and females dispersed over occupations to a degree more prominent than is predictable with their general shares of work, independent of the way of occupation section. Stereotyping is the impression when segregation continues and establishes over the long run. Stereotyping is a dynamic idea while segregation is a static one. Segregation is distinct, focuses in time, yet the diverse. Stereotyping exist when males and females keep on doing work in the occupation. Work mobility crosswise over sex is barred. Segregation is, therefore, essential, yet not adequate for making of gender generalizations. So we have two dimensions of any measure of stereotyping: the segregation and the force of segregation in the same manner over the long run (Merino, 2011). In the third world countries, the phenomenon of gender stereotyping is the same. Women are marginalized to doing domestic work at home and extend to performing small subsistence agriculture and productions that are small scale. Gender stereotyping is dominant in these third world countries like Africa. Sectors of the economy that require less skilled skills are dominated by the female gender. It makes them ill-paid since they do low-skilled jobs that are less rewarding. Occupational segregation is dominant in these low-income sectors of the economy. The males instead enjoy appointment into white collar jobs. The women are often prejudiced by the males and are far from being given an equal platform for employment opportunities. In many African countries traditions, the boy child is well educated while the girl child is not given enough education. Instead, they are often married off at an early age meaning they are limited to performing housekeeping duties. Statistics shows a higher prevalence of employment of women works force in particular employments. Unfortunately, these are the occupations involve working for longer hours; have limited retirement remunerations and lower earnings. Of late an observation has been made where there has been an increase in the number of women in skilled occupations in the US. It is due to the increase of the feminist activism movement that fought for more employment of women by the virtue that they could perform same to their male counterparts. Another reason for this is because of the increasing accessibility of higher education for women. It enabled them to attain the requirements and qualifications fit for skilled employment. Based on their gender orientation, women have in the past been discriminated. The prejudice and discrimination are because the roles of women limitation are to being mothers and housewives. In the US, the women were viewed as a less superior and a weaker sex. For this reason, their male counterparts were favored in offices employment. Initially, women were by the law of the time seen to be invisible. According to the data reported by the National Center for Education, it indicates that women have significantly catching up with men in terms of education attainment over the last 50 years. For example, a higher percentage of women in colleges complete their degrees compared to men. Educational gains among women and males seen across racial and ethnic groups, and this trend is also present in other developed countries. In the employment sector, American women and the labor statistics bureau reports show that the involvement of women has been gradually increasing. On the other hand, the Employment of men has been on the decline. Studies also show that women are more willing to work part time compared to men making them access more employment opportunities. However, women are still paid less compared to their male counterparts this occasioned by the fact that women still work in less paying jobs often associated with females. Thus, you find that families headed by women have lower levels of income compared to those headed by men. Data also show that in many workplaces, women are still the minority group in terms of numbers. It is not acceptable to discriminate against sexual minorities because of their preferences. Human and are supposed to be treated equally and must not be judged because of their sexual orientation. Gender stereotyping leads sexual harassment. Sexual orientation is Quid pro quo where a worker undergoes promotion or retains a job basing on whether an employee accepted or rejected sexual advances. The second type of sexual harassment is where a colleague or administrator is making sexual comments or advancement to employees without necessarily offering promotion to the employee. A hostile working environment contributes to sex discrimination and harassment in workplaces. It refers to a situation where, for example, a new employees an introduction into employment through sexual advances. Another reason is that gender stereotyping in places of work. It leaves a certain gender especially females vulnerable to sexual harassment. A hostile working environment contributes to sex discrimination and harassment in workplaces. It refers to a situation where, for example, new employees introduced into employment through sexual advances. Another reason is that gender stereotyping in places of work. It leaves a certain gender especially females vulnerable to sexual harassment (Archer& Lloyd, 2002). Conclusion Segregation in occupations and places of work forms a major condition for the continuation and creation of gender stereotyping. Gender segregation is a dominant mostly in third world developing countries. It is necessary to spot areas of emerging and existing stereotypes so as to take the required measures avoid such employment market rigidity. An employee can legally report an organization for wrongful dismissed based on sexual discrimination. Equally when an employer involved in sexual harassment, it forms a basis for launching of a suit in a court of law. There are laws in place that promote equality in employment and protect the interest of employees. The importance of equality should be given emphasis throughout the organizations. There should also be monitoring of gender equality progress in organizations to assess its effectiveness. It enables individual organizations to assess themselves. Awareness creation is also vital. Organizations should educate its employees on the importance of gender equality. Gender stereotyping needs a spirited and committed fight so as to be managed. A gender ratios and balance needs to be instituted into legislation to ensure organizations can implement gender equality. References Archer, J., & Lloyd, B. (2002). Sex and gender (2nd ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Biholar, R. (n.d.). Transforming discriminatory sex roles and gender stereotyping: The implementation of Article 5(a) CEDAW for the realisation of womens right to be free from gender-based violence in Jamaica. Cook, R., & Cusack, S. (2010). Gender stereotyping: Transnational legal perspectives. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press. Merino, N. (2011). Gender. Farmington Hills: Greenhaven Press. Read More