Male and Female Equality - Term Paper Example

Are there any jobs that should be done only by men or only by women? Why? Introduction  Male – Female equality is a highly debated topic across the world. Historically the male community enjoys immense freedom compared to the female community in most of the segments of social life. The domination of the male over female has started even at the creation itself. Holy Bible says that God has created Eve, the first female from the born of Adam and females were created for giving the males a company. From then onwards the female community forced to lead a suppressed life in which they were utilized by the males only for the reproductive purposes and homely duties. It is a fact that the physiology of males and females has immense differences. The male body is much stronger than the female body and in many cases males exhibit stronger mental power than the females. Based on the above differences in the physiology and psychology of males and females, many people argue that some jobs can be done only by males whereas some other jobs may only be done by the females. But most of the female community doesn’t like such segregation and they are of the view that it is possible for the female community to do any jobs like the male community. This paper briefly analyses both the sides of the argument “Are there any jobs that should be done only by men or only by women?” and supports diving jobs based on the gender differences. Gender roles equality and feminism  “On the 8 April 1970, a group of young women marched down Copenhagen’s main pedestrian street, Stroget. They shouted slogans against the cosmetic industry’s exploitation of women and demanded equal pay. On the placards they had written: “Women, stand up!”. With enormous stuffed bosoms, big hats, false eyelashes and red stockings, they brought not only their slogans, but also their own young bodies to the attention of the public (Gender Equality and Feminism, p.2) The call for equality by feminists has started in the 70’s and it spread all over the world immediately. The suppressed women community argued for equality in all the areas of human life and they argued that it is possible for the females to perform all the tasks just like the males and denying them equal pay and opportunities are not good for a civilized society like the present one. They have cited many examples to prove their claims. They have argued that women already proved their abilities in politics (Indira Gandhi, Golda Mayor etc), science (Madam Curie), space exploration (Valentina Tereshkova), mountaineering (Bachendri Pal), Management (Indra Nui), etc and it is impossible to cite an area in which women failed miserably. Under such circumstances, feminists are of the opinion that women should be allowed to come out from kitchens and to participate in the nation building process along with the men. Even though the arguments of the feminists cited above are right, in my opinion, they still lack either the physical or mental abilities just like men. Genetically women are created with weak muscles and weak mindset. There might be exceptions. But most of the women community are still lack muscle power or mental power like the men and hence their initial enthusiasm and energy may easily be evaporated after a while. For example, consider a female working in a construction site in a country like UAE or Saudi Arabia. The extreme hot weather conditions may make them easily tired. It is impossible for them to work continuously for 8 hours outside where the atmospheric temperature might be 38-40 degree Celsius. In short, it is difficult for the women community to argue for equal opportunities in employment sector where immense energy, stamina and health are required for hard work. It is also difficult for the women community to exhibit same mental power in employment sector where mental power is badly needed. For example, most of the aeroplane pilots are males. This is because of the fact that males may have superior control over their emotions and judgement compared to the females in taking quick decisions. The mental power of the pilot is critical in piloting an aeroplane. It is not like driving a car, train or ship where the drivers may get more time to take quick decisions. Christina Hoff Summers in her book Who Stole Feminism claimed that feminists break down into two main categories: gender feminists and equity feminists. In her opinion, equity feminists are those concerned primarily with equal rights and treatment, while gender feminists question traditional gender roles and the role which society plays in these roles (Smith). Equity feminists are arguing for equal status whereas the gender feminists even questions the traditional roles played by different genders. The arguments of equity feminists can be accepted up to certain extent as both males and females have equal importance in sustaining human life on earth. It is impossible either by a male or female alone to reproduce. Nature has given equal responsibilities to both males and females as far as reproduction is concerned. At the same time it is impossible for a male to conceive deliver child. Nature has given that duty to the females and the males have the moral responsibility of protection of the offspring. The women´s liberation feminists maintain that a prerequisite for women’s liberation is a classless society. In their opinion, “No women’s liberation without class struggle” and “No class struggle without women’s liberation” (Gender Equality and Feminism, p.2). The ideology of classless society is good on paper. But in practice it difficult to achieve. Even in communist countries like China, class differences exist in different forms. Genetically, all the living things have been created as males or females and in the entire living world; the domination of males is evident. Consider wild elephant life. Elephants travel across the forests for food in groups and the group leader would be a male elephant. Consider the case of lions. Lionesses hunt the preys even for the lions. Moreover, males are stronger physically in the living world. In short, it is difficult to equate males with females either physically or mentally and at the time of creation itself, nature or the creator has allotted certain roles to both males and females. It is suicidal, trying to change the natural laws. Stereo type or job domination  One of the major differences between males and females in the employment sector is the differences in motivational factors. The motivational factors for the males may not always be the motivational factors of females and vice versa. Males always motivated by masculine characteristics such as opportunity for advancement, opportunity for high earning, responsibility and autonomy whereas females may motivate more with feminine characteristics such as personal life time, co-operation and environment (Arnania-Kepuladze,p.84). Psychologically, women like to spend more time with their friends and families and it is difficult for them to concentrate heavily on their profession by cutting down their personal life time. On the other hand, compared to females, males can spend more time for their profession. For example, consider the profession of a top executive. It is quite possible that the executive needs to spend overtime in most of the days of his/her profession in order to execute the work properly. Males will do the overtime work without many problems because of their desire for career advancements. On the other hand, it is difficult for the females to spend lengthy overtime hours frequently at the organization for career advancements. They will prefer not to take such risky options or methods for career advancements. For men earnings, freedom, advancement, challenge, possibility to use skills etc. are more significant performance motivators. According to gender stereotypical model, women should fulfill family needs and care of the quality of their family life. So, for women interpersonal relationship, security, fringe benefits, environment etc. should be more important (Arnania-Kepuladze, p.87). Nursing sector is dominated by females compared to males. It is because of the fact that the patients need feminine characteristics more than the masculine characteristics in their care. In other words it is difficult for a male nurse to provide the same care and attention to a patient compared to that provided by a female nurse. On the other hand, marketing is a profession dominated by males compared to females because of the frequent and lengthy travels and tours required to excel in this profession. Moreover, excellent negotiation and communication skills are essential for marketing profession and males have superiority in these areas compared to females. Women and WWI - Women in the Workforce  Before World War 1 women played the role of housewife in United States and UK like countries. But the WW 1 changed some of the established misconceptions about the abilities of women in serving at the war fronts and other employment sectors. Women who forced to spend their time in the kitchens were forced to come out from the shell when their need rose in other areas. For example, WW 1 forced the most of the males to concentrate at the war front and other productive sectors were faced stiff shortage of workers. Women came for the rescue of US like countries during that period as most of the organizations forced to employ women to avoid closing down of their organizations. Kim (2003) has mentioned that in US, only 8 million women were working in the paid occupations before the WW1. But the number increased drastically as the war erupts. Some of the major professions in which women proved their abilities during this period were; as bank clerks, ticket sellers, elevator operator, chauffeur, street car conductor, railroad trackwalker, section hand, locomotive wiper and oiler, locomotive dispatcher, block operator, draw bridge attendant, and employment in machine shops, steel mills, powder and ammunition factories, airplane works, boot blacking and farming etc (Kim) Goldstein (2001) has mentioned that till the outbreak of World War I, feminists on both sides pledged themselves to peace, in transnational women’s solidarity, but within months of the war’s outbreak, all the major feminist groups of the belligerents had given a new pledge – to support their respective governments (Goldstein). Many American women worked in the war front in providing nursing care, food, and other supplies to the soldiers. Moreover they worked as office staff in most of the military offices even though they did not directly take part in the war. It is a fact that women exhibited strong courage in providing assistance to the military in the war front at the time of World War 1. Moreover, many states have women soldiers in their military. But at the war front, most of the times, the fight might be fully carried out by the male soldiers. It is difficult to anticipate same energy, courage and bravery exhibited by the male soldiers in the war front from women soldiers. In other words, it is difficult for the women fighters to fight just like the male fighters in a war front. The muscle strength and courage are the vital components needed for the soldiers which cannot be expected from all the female fighters. Conclusions It is a fact that women have an important role in our society and for the sustainment of human generation; they are executing their responsibilities perfectly. It is suicidal to consider women inferior to the men. There is no question of superiority or inferiority in the gender issues since either males or females alone cannot survive in this word. Mutual cooperation and respect are essential between males and females for constructing a healthy society. At the same time both males and females should accept their own strengths and weakness and they should realize that challenging one’s role in the social life may not help the other in achieving supremacy. Genetically, males and females have some differences, physically and mentally. Because of the above fact some professions may be easier for males and some may be easier for the females. Therefore, it is better to allot jobs to males and females based on the characteristics of the job in order to ensure better productivity. Works Cited 1. Arnania-Kepuladze Tamila. 2010. “Gender Stereotypes and Gender Feature of Job Motivation: Differences or Similarity? Problems and Perspectives in Management, Volume 8, Issue 2, 2010. 15 June 2010. 2. “Gender Equality and Feminism”. 15 June 2010. 3. Goldstein, Joshua S. 2001. “The Women of World War I”. 15 June 2010. 4. Kim, Tae H. 2003. “Where Women Worked During World War I”. 15 June 2010. 5. Smith SE. 2010. “What is the Difference Between Gender Feminism and Equity Feminism?”. 15 June 2010. Read More