Women are Still Treated like a Minority in the Workplace - Personal Statement Example

Women are Still Treated like a Minority in the Workplace The phrase, ‘a woman has to be twice as good as a man for the same job’ is based on convincing evidence. Employers continually discriminate against women, not just in the application process for several kinds of employment and additionally by paying proportionately lower salaries once employed. Societal stereotypes that mirror past viewpoints of women’s position as subservient to males still exist showcased by the continued disparity regarding employment opportunities.

Workplace segregation is still widespread as high numbers of female workers are linked with relatively low pay rates. And progressively higher numbers of women are taking part-time positions which are associated with lower pay rates than men, even after other dynamics have been factored in. Women’s employment opportunities are highly concentrated in traditionally female-dominated careers which are usually the lower paid. Women continue to be under-represented in the better paid positions within occupations.

Qualified women are typically deprived of top level employment in corporate organizations, but instead of calling it what it is, discrimination and sexism, this form of disproportionate treatment is called the ‘glass ceiling’ effect. Women certainly are expected have to perform more work as a man to maintain the same pay rate and similar position. Despite greater than ever levels of labor market involvement, women are still not uniformly represented, particularly at senior positions within organizations.

This includes those corporations that cater expressly to women consumers. This plainly observable fact of business has been termed ‘the glass ceiling.’ The phrase refers to the “invisible, artificial barriers that prevent qualified individuals from advancing within their organisation and reaching full potential” (Hewitt & Roche, 2003). This is not defined as merely an arbitrarily fabricated plateau, beyond which women are deprived of the chance to progress to upper levels of senior management.

The glass ceiling exists throughout the labor force in various historically male dominated jobs. These obstacles, which have been firmly in position since the beginning of humankind, resulted from psychological and institutional practices that are still in place to a great extent. Women who are under an imposed glass ceiling may not, initially, even perceive that a barrier was in place which kept them from better jobs because the glass is clear, nearly unperceivable. However, when they try to surpass a certain position within an organization, they often soon discover that this invisible ceiling prevented them from advancement.

“It has become unspoken standard operating procedure to disallow many qualified women top level positions which were merited by their performance.” (Hewitt & Roche, 2003). From the first societies in recorded history jobs pertaining to family care were, understandably, considered the woman’s job. In more recent years, social and economic behavior patterns have altered specific gender roles both in the workplace and in the home. This is a significant feature of wage differentials between women and men.

Even if women received equal pay as men and were given equal opportunities for advancement within a company, society would expect them to be responsible for the home and everyone in it. Modifying social attitudes is critical if women are to achieve full equality. Works Cited Hewitt, Patricia & Roche, Barbara. “Improving Life at Work: Advancing Women in the Workplace.” Women & Equality Unit. Department of Trade and Industry. London: Crown Copyright, 2003.