The problem of inequality between sexes and the issue of gender stereotypes have been permeating communities for centuries, causing women in any society to experience tremendous oppression and massive restrictions. In her 1790 essay, “On the Equality of Sexes,” Judith Sargent Murray represents a plight of women from all corners of the world, demanding equality as an indispensable human right (Murray, 2019). Although Murray’s writing is more than two centuries old, it still sadly rings true for women globally. While Murray’s claim that outstanding women are just as numerous as remarkable men, the extent of attention drawn to women’s accomplishments is always doomed to be skewed compared to men’s as long as society continues to see women as a derivative of men and not as independent human beings.
Therefore, activism geared toward promoting a different perspective on women is drastically needed. Women need to self-organize in order to challenge and alter the current media narrative that tends to objectify women and deprive them of their agency (Murray, 2019). Notably, even though present-day feminist changes will most likely take place in the digital context, the general concept of challenging the portrayal of women as ornaments and the derivative of men will still remain the focus of the movement. Therefore, though written two centuries ago, Murray’s statement still retains its relevance.
Until women are represented as an equally important class within the global community, the extent of recognition that they gain is doomed to be lower than that one of men. Therefore, it is crucial to continue celebrating women’s accomplishments and encourage a positive change within the current perception of women as a social and biological class. Murray’s essay encourages a more profound and intricate understanding of the nature of women’s oppression, therefore, setting the stage for change. In the present-day context, the specified principles should be applied to empower women and encourage a change in how they are perceived.
Reference
Murray, J. S. (2019). On the equality of sexes. In E. C. Dubois & L. Dumenil, Through women’s eyes (vol. 1) (pp. 151-152). MacMillan Learning.
With the variety of socially pressing issues existing these days, some strengthened by the ongoing pandemic and social distancing introduced in many parts of the world, it might be difficult to choose just one to discuss. Accepting such a challenge, in the framework of this paper, we aim at addressing the issue of gender inequality and its many implications on American society.
Gender inequality as a social problem is more than multi-faceted. It is not just the fight for the women’s rights, elimination of the gender pay gap or the harassment phenomenon. It deals with domestic and workplace sexism, destructive social norms and expectations, denying women the ability to take control over their bodies, minds, and aspirations. While some still live in the left-wing democratic information bubble and expect that American society is far ahead, famously leading the rest of the world by example, the reality proves to hit back. It is fair to say that the nation is divided – as some women launch meaningful campaigns, for example, ‘Equality Can’t Wait’ project of Melinda Gates, the elected President calls women ‘dogs’ or ‘horsefaces,’ defining the norm of body shaming under their administration (Bump; Werber). However, the above stated represents only one part of the story.
Finding someone to blame has always been an honorary social tradition, as it helped release the accumulated public anger and create the sense that justice has been finally served. There is hardly any need to go far searching for examples – Harvey Weinstein case is one of the main instances of selective perception in modern society (Full Coverage: Harvey Weinstein Is Found Guilty of Rape). The voices of those who disagree with the fact that the resolution of one case of rape allegations against men in power in favor of their victims are safely buried under the enhanced belief in the trustworthiness of law enforcement (Full Coverage: Harvey Weinstein Is Found Guilty of Rape). Even this does not reflect the full spectrum of the current debate on gender equality.
Men and women have always seen gender equality differently. The 2019 polls show that men are twice as likely to claim gender equality has already been achieved in their respective countries (Naidu-Ghelani). These statements come as no surprise, with one of the main factors preventing equal treatment being the lack of education on gender-related issues (Naidu-Ghelani). Nevertheless, men have never been known for keeping their opinions to themselves, and with the established social norms supporting these behaviors, they haste to represent feminists as alarmists or individuals with extremist aspirations. For sure, no reasoning behind such claims is required – believing in someone’s attempts to ‘rewrite history’ seems quite appealing to many. The obstacles women had to overcome to get the same opportunities and access to education, civil and political rights suddenly seem minuscule. Their fight for the extermination of the gender pay gap or harassment appears exaggerated. Surprisingly, the unfolding of social upheavals resulted in more inertia and denial than ever before.
Having more resources in their hands, political figures and other interest groups push the narratives that further degrade the efforts invested in the fight for equality by generations of women. With the long-term results implying women’s struggle will last hundreds of years, the short-term ones are taking place today. In 2019, the world witnessed the biggest, in recent years, wave of abortion restrictions enacted in the South and Midwest of the United States (Nash et al.). With some states introducing abortion protections and aiming at narrowing the gap, the trend was still apparent – conservatives have had enough of this pro-choice nonsense and were ready to strike back with all they got. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the Human Life Protection Act, again, bringing back the dominating discourse and claiming that women do not choose to give birth; instead – it is implied and represents their sacred debt to society.
Such a disparity existing within the territory of the US signals that the society as a whole remains immature. Several factors should be taken into consideration as the fight for equality progresses. First of all, a better society cannot be built by women on their own. It is crucial that men realize that the patriarchal system is toxic for them as well. Gender norms are established in every existing society, and the expectations of feminine or masculine attitudes and conformity are among triggers that result in psychological problems and deviant behaviors. Instead of promoting these unhealthy social tendencies, men could join the fight for equality that would benefit all. While women are represented as villains, man-haters, or inadequate careerists, men would never be tagged in that fashion if they publicly sympathized with the gender equality agenda. The resource at their disposal remains unattainable for women; no matter how hard they try, the reality of life proves that even fake conformity is what it takes to become successful, and, maybe, then do great things. To those who choose to stay true to their ideals and pursue their beliefs, society has nothing to offer except for victimization.
The media are organizations that shape public opinion and promote social changes. However, as a part of society, media organizations are influenced by the same social aspects and biased conclusions as the rest of the community. This paper will consider sociological perspectives on media representations of gender.
Over the past decades, the media have become a significant force that has launched a process of change in gender inequality. Newspapers, television, and the entertainment industry discussed women’s problems in the workplace, such as unequal pay, harassment, prejudice, and lack of career advancement. Despite significant progress in gender issues, the media still often uses the notion of traditional gender roles and the division of labor (Krijnen & Bauwel, 2021). Masculinity and femininity are presented from the view of the functionalist perspective, where a man earns money, and a woman raises children. It cannot be ignored that in recent years, an enormous value of content has appeared on the achievements of women and their contribution to society. However, many of these works have been criticized for associating female attractiveness with a necessary attribute of success.
The 2019 Women in the Workplace (as cited in Beard et al. 2020) uncovered that women in the media continue to be denied access to top roles. At the beginning of a career, men and women are represented equally. Women are promoted faster than men, and they are more satisfied with their position in the company. However, the further growth of women’s careers is slowing down to a minimum. As a result, the owners and managers of media are mainly men.
The issue of gender inequality in the media has multiple manifestations and aspects, which ultimately create a field of various forces of influence where the relationship between sex and gender is built (Krijnen & Bauwel, 2021). Bias and gender inequality are also common in media organizations. From an interactionalist perspective, gender should be considered concerning other concepts such as class, age, disability, sexuality, and ethnicity. A seemingly obvious concept is often ignored. For instance, # MeToo was founded by a black activist as a tool to support victims of sexual assault but has since become associated with workplace harassment.
References
Beard, L., Dunn, J., Huang, J., & Krivkovich, A. (2020). Shattering the glass screen. Gender Equity in Media and Entertainment, McKinsey, Web.
The issue of gender violence remains urgent and relevant to this day for all nations, but the history and recent events in Mexico show that this country needs to pay attention to its current trends. One of the most significant statistics reveals a growing rate of femicide in Mexico – between 2015 and 2021, the number of femicide victims has increased by 135% (Adams). Such rates point to a deeply rooted problem connected to the structurally supported or unopposed gender inequality in all systems of the country and its government. Femicide remains one of the most devastating issues in Mexico, and it is vital to address the gender oppression and inequality that women face.
Discussion
It is challenging to classify femicide cases due to the intricate details separating homicide and femicide. The characteristics of femicide are linked to the murder of women based specifically on their gender. Moreover, the challenge lies in the lack of investigation and reporting from authorities (Méndez and Barraza 24). Nevertheless, local human rights organizations present an alarming picture – the rate of femicides continues to grow, and more and more women report feeling unsafe outside their homes (López 162). The risks of femicide are also high inside one’s home, as about 60% of all murders of women are committed by intimate partners and family members (López 162). Thus, the rate of murders cannot be linked to such issues as gun violence or organized crime. The persistence of femicide as one of the major crimes faced by women is based on the long history of gender inequality.
The unequal treatment of women based on gender exists in all spheres of society. López finds that the gap between men and women in decision-making positions is staggering (160). Although women take up many jobs in the judicial and other government systems, they are employed in roles with limited or absent decision-making capabilities. In Mexico, the presence of such problems as femicide is investigated as an outcome of a rigid hierarchical relationship between men and women (Méndez and Barraza 15). Inequality is strengthened through role enforcement as women are placed below men in families, couples, and professional environments.
Thus, women have to rely on policies introduced by men to address the issue of femicide. Male politicians are not effective in combatting femicide, as can be seen by the response of the President, López Obrador, to the latest killing of Debanhi Susana Escobar Bazaldúa. Talking about the young woman’s death, he said that “this happens everywhere” (Phillips and Perlmutter). The dismissal of worrying statistics highlighted by local human rights advocates by the position of the highest authority reveals a significant issue of gender inequality in the state. Moreover, it shows that the solution to femicide and gender-based violence lies in addressing gender inequality inside and outside Mexico.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the current statistics of homicides and femicides in Mexico reveal a significant and devastating change – more women are being killed yearly due to their gender. In Mexico, women are unsafe regardless of whether they are at home. Many local activists have brought up the rate of murders, and each new case is met with community uproar. Nevertheless, the rates continue to increase, and the response from politicians is dismissive. The combination of these factors reveals an underlying issue linked to gender inequality. The hierarchy dictates women’s place in society, which limits their voices and ability to improve their lives on the structural and individual levels.
López, Geofredo Angulo. “Femicide and gender violence in Mexico: Elements for a systemic approach.” The Age of Human Rights Journal, vol. 12, 2019, pp. 158-183.
Méndez, Mariamne Crippa, and Adriana Rodríguez Barraza. “An Interpretation of Femicide in Mexico: Violence and Human Rights.” Advances in Applied Sociology, vol. 12, no. 2, 2022, pp. 11-28.
A social problem I have encountered since childhood is the inequality of the sexes in any activity. One constantly has to observe certain features implying differences in responsibilities, opportunities, and sometimes rights among genders. To an even greater extent, this applies to the contemporary discriminatory problems of people with non-binary identities. Unfortunately, in the opinion of many, inequality in their treatment is even more pronounced, forming a third group from such persons in addition to binary people and positioning them at the end of the list.
Thus, upon closer examination, it becomes apparent that this is a global problem in contemporary society. Hence, the level of consideration refers to the macro perspective according to the information studied (CrashCourse, 2017). If we study the three main paradigms of sociological processes, two of them are concentrated at the macro level: conflict theory and structural functionalism theory. Conflict theory can be called the most appropriate in this case because the functioning of society and its parts does not depend so much on the gender of a particular member of society.
According to conflict theory, the struggle between men and women can be explained by the struggle for leadership and power. Women’s more fragile physiological structure has historically caused their social role and marginalization in many patriarchal societies. Power leadership ensured that women were discriminated against on the basis of gender and was expressed in all cuts of everyday life. Today, despite society’s desire for equality, there is such a problem. In doing so, global social groups, such as people united by gender, fight for their supremacy in all spheres, not only with each other but likewise with smaller groups (CrashCourse, 2017). An example of this confirmation of conflict theory is the frequent discrimination and disrespect shown to non-binary individuals. Whether they differ from the accepted standards of these groups or recognize them as competitors, the exact cause varies and is not fully known until now. However, this does not invalidate the problem at the macro-sociological level, which needs to be addressed through education and legislative responsibility.
Differential treatment accorded to individuals due to their gender is called gender inequality. Gender inequality is characterized by men’s dominance over women. Men look at women as inferior and less valuable beings because of their sexual disposition. Gender inequality encompasses various dimensions, diverse and it is widespread all over the world. However, Asia is the most affected continent. Gender inequality can be classified into different classes.
To begin with, there is economic gender inequality which is demonstrated by women contributing less than men in the formal work sector; thereby, women are more likely to live in poverty. Secondly, there is political gender inequality, which entails low representation of women in elected offices, political and corporate appointments.
Thirdly, there is social gender inequality, which is demonstrated by women being the victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, inequalities in education attainment, lack of freedom to marry and divorce, and unequal access to health care.
Lastly, demographic gender inequality is evident in cases where women are never given the chance to be born or live because of feticide and infanticide; hence, men outnumber women by large numbers (Lorber 2010:4). This research paper focuses on gender inequality in Afghanistan, where women have faced all forms of inequalities for a long time as a result of the country’s beliefs and norms.
Discussion. Historical overview
Gender inequality in Afghanistan stems from cultural beliefs, and it was worsened by the Taliban regime. Afghanistan women are oppressed, discriminated and marginalized beings whose rights have been violated for a long time. The biggest challenge in Afghanistan’s gender inequality is that it is two-sided; the society’s social and cultural beliefs make men believe oppression against women is justified. But, women have willingly given in to the oppression because of its deep entrenchment within their culture.
Most of Afghanistan’s citizens follow their informal customary laws to promote family values and community cohesion until now. Traditionally, gender distinguished the different roles of men and women, where men took the governing role in the community while women were seen as men’s property, bringing about gender segregation. Although customary laws violated women’s rights under international standards, councils called Jirgas attempted to uphold them and bring about community cohesion but without much success.
For instance, women were given out as compensation for offenses committed, equating them to objects that could be easily used and disposed. Also, women were forced into marriages through kidnapping, and if they were suspected of being adulterous. Rape cases were rarely investigated and penalized.
In addition, women who had lost their virginity were regarded as outcasts, and they were looked down upon. This term justice was incomprehensible to these women because such incidences were hidden by the communities and most of them were never reported (Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit 2013: 38).
Taliban regime: This regime was salient in Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001. During this regime, women who had young children were restricted from working and the rest were not allowed to run their businesses or even appear in public places. They were allowed to work in hospitals, but they could only attend to female patients.
School girls in rural areas greatly suffered the attacks of the Taliban. As a result, girl’s education was prohibited. Severe punishments including public “beatings, threats and imprisonment” were imposed on women who did not abide by the Taliban rules (AREU 2013: 40).
Post-Taliban regime: After the fall of the Taliban, a new constitution was formed and it lifted most of the restrictions imposed on women. The women tried to get back their jobs in the civil service but with little success due to limited access to the labor market and lack of professional skills to carry out their duties.
During this period, the Afghanistan government was unstable and it could not provide security to the public. As a result, there was an escalated use of customary laws; thereby, continued gender inequalities. To date, gender inequality in Afghanistan is still a critical issue and the factors outlined below have contributed to current gender inequality according to Morgan (2008).
Low level of protection from the family where women are exposed to early and arranged marriages.
The Afghanistan Constitution and Islamic Sharia Law allow polygamy, hold fathers as natural guardians of their children, and dictates women to inherit smaller shares compared to men.
Violence against women is practiced, tolerated and the abusers are rarely prosecuted because the authorities rarely investigate such crimes.
Rape cases are rarely reported to the authorities for fear of being looked down upon (Morgan 2008:2).
Women must receive permission from their husbands whenever they want to work.
Rapists have the freedom to settle rape cases through monetary compensation to the offended family.
When women fail to give in to their husbands’ sexual demands, their husbands have the right to deprive them of food.
Only a small fraction of Afghanistan women speak in public against women inequality and violence. Kabul city is the only place in the country where the situation for women is better (AREU 2013: 35). Afghanistan is formulating and applying several strategies to eradicate gender inequality by enriching equality in the constitution. Women access to public services was improved after the Taliban regime.
A new constitution approved in 2004 gave equal rights to all citizens and established the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) to monitor and protect these rights (Morgan 2008:3). This new constitution gave women equal access to health care and legal guarantees for political participation.
In addition, women were accorded an equal right to vote. Women have been allowed to participate in town leadership and in rule-of-law institutions, which were initially dominated by men. The legal system has been reformed and now, it protects women against social injustices and ensures that their access to formal justice is well documented.
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was ratified by the new constitution. The main purpose of this convention was to show commitment to the rights of women in public, political, social and cultural sectors, especially in forced and underage marriages and use of women as compensation for disputes. The CEDAW is independent of Afghanistan’s customary laws, and it proposes that all marriages should be exercised by willing parties, who have already given their consent.
Women legal protections have been enhanced, and for the first time, the Elimination of Violence against Women (EVAW) law criminalized rape and the customs, traditions and practices which bring about gender inequality (ICG 2013:10). Women have been enlightened on their rights and the EVAW law.
There is also the provision that victims of violence should seek help in safe houses ran by ministries handling women’s affairs or by Afghan NGOs. The government has allocated aid targeted for female beneficiaries, women’s rights NGOs, women health care, education and initiatives aimed at helping victims of gender inequality (AREU 2013: 27).
Education sector in Afghanistan is facing many challenges including lack of female teachers in schools, attacks on girls, lack of transport, family commitments, and practice of oppressive customary laws. Despite these challenges, many girls have enrolled in both primary and secondary schools as a result of provision of funds for schools and the allowance to conduct schools at home. Amazingly, a few girls have enrolled in colleges where they graduate with skills necessary to enable them to work in the public sector.
Analysis
Despite the fact that The Afghanistan constitution is new and helps to restore order, it does not stop all the injustices done to women in their daily lives. In addition, certain clauses in the constitution affect the administration of justice to women, for example, a clause in article 33 states that “no law can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam” (Morgan 2008:3).
Despite the achievements discussed above, Afghanistan women are still facing challenges such as limited mobility, limited access to health, economic and educational opportunities, and limited public life participation and decision making (Morgan 2008:2).
Despite the government’s efforts to reduce inequality, gender equality is yet to reflect on Afghanistan’s women’s daily lives. Several challenges, including insecurity, opposition within communities and from religious leaders, lack of female staff in the security sector and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), and violence to the prominent women are contributing negatively to the attainment of the set goals (AREU 2013: 35).
To date, some violence cases go unreported due to norms and beliefs of customary laws, which are still upheld in some places, in Afghanistan, despite the fact that the jirgas and the shuras are still in action (Morgan 2008:2).
Afghanistanian beliefs, taboos and norms have made Afghanistanian women the most vulnerable to gender inequality in the world since time in history through the Taliban regime to the current state. The position of women in the labor market is weak with women owning only 5% of all the businesses in Afghanistan.
Most women in the rural areas participate in home activities such as carpet weaving, sewing, tailoring and farm duties due to their limited mobility (Morgan 2008:2). Afghanistan has a low female to male literacy ratio of 0.4 compared to that of neighboring countries such as Pakistan and Iran whose female to male literacy ratios are 0.6 and 0.8 respectively (Morgan 2008:2).
Ratification of the new constitution in 2004 improved women’s rights and acted as a platform to fight against injustices in court. As a result, women have become more empowered and knowledgeable of their rights with the help of the new constitution, international forces and communities.
Women’s participation in the economic, political, education and social sector have improved over the last years after the Taliban fell. Although the process of implementing the new constitution is slow, many organizations have been formed to help fight these inequalities. The new organizations formed are yielding positive results with many recommendations being given to the government and international bodies on how to eradicate gender inequality and promote gender equity in Afghanistan.
Conclusion
Men believed that they were superior to women and they regarded women as their properties; thereby, oppressing and treating women as servants. On the other hand, women believed in men’s ideas. Women could not do anything contrary to the approval of their men, and this submission accelerated gender inequality, which was later aggrieved by the Taliban.
Customary laws practiced back then supported all the injustices on women, and for a long time, women in Afghanistan were exposed to economic, political, social and demographic gender inequalities.
References
Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU). 2013. Women’s Rights, Gender Equality, and Transition: Securing gains, moving forward (Issue paper 2013). Kabul: Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit. Web.
Lorber, Judith. 2010. Gender Inequality: Feminist Theories and Politics. New York Oxford: Oxford university press.
Morgan, Clara. 2008. “Afghanistan: The Status of Women.” Parliamentary Information and Research Service Publication. Web.
Gender inequality is a vice rooted in people’s cultures and social behaviors. As a result, rooting out discrimination against women, in particular, is difficult as demeaning values are reinforced in individuals from an early age. The media plays a major role in gender socialization because of the ways it chooses to portray women. Various TV shows, cartoons, and reality shows portray men as the alpha gender, responsible for making tough choices, leadership, building, and development initiatives. On the other hand, women are assigned domestic duties, including nurturing children, taking care of households, preparing meals, and cooking. Hence, the media contribute to gender inequality by upholding negative values and exposing children to stereotypic notions early.
Watching cartoons was one of my hobbies as a young child as is the preference of many other children while growing up. However, I never came to realize how much these programs incorporate constructs of gender roles that do not promote equality. Shows such as Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, and Snow White are famous because they usher children into a world of fantasy. Even so, they have several common attributes in their depiction of gender roles. Women are often the subjects of dilemmas and atrocities that render them incapable. As a result, they always depend on men to save them from their plight and solve all their problems.
In addition, I remember how these shows used to bring out men as powerful and authoritative while women were meek and refrained from conflicts. As a result, it was reasonable to behave as we learned from our environment. Although many people do not realize, the media does not champion equality because it depicts women as the weaker gender. Thus, altering individuals’ perceptions of gender and abolishing stereotypic gender roles required addressing how the media contributes and setting up strategies to limit their influence.
The portrayal of males and females in video games is a subject of study in gender studies and is discussed in the context of sexism in the industry. Even though women comprise almost half of video game players, they are greatly underrepresented as characters in mainstream games. The portrayal of females in games usually reflects traditional gender roles, stereotypes, or objectification. In most instances, male characters are made to appear big as well as muscular. The main aim of this study is to investigate whether there is a problem of gender inequality in the video games industry and its impact on society.
Methodology
Design of the Survey
The main design chosen for this research is a cross-sectional study. This refers to an approach where the investigator collects data from multiple people at one point in time. It is dissimilar to longitudinal studies, which target a group of individuals over an extended duration. The cross-sectional approach is used to describe events occurring at the present time (Alharbi, Jackson, and Usher, 2020, p. 20). One observes variables without the need to influence them. However, it was important to control a variable such as a gender as it is proper to have an equal number of male and female participants. The reason for this is to ensure an unbiased process that leads to accurate information that can be used to bring change (Alharbi, Jackson, and Usher, 2020, p. 21). This type of design was selected over other observational studies as it is often inexpensive as well as easy to perform. It helps to establish preliminary proof in planning a future advanced or more developed study.
Selection of the Sample
One hundred individuals were identified, and through simple random sampling, seventy were recognized as participants in the survey. The technique of sampling was chosen to ensure that everyone had the same probability. It is unbiased and a fundamental type of sampling, which can be part of other more multifaceted methods (Alharbi, Jackson, and Usher, 2020, p. 22). After the determination of respondents, the investigator chose to design the questionnaires. The questionnaires consisted of a list of open and closed-ended questions that aimed to establish a general perception of the topic of research. The aim of the latter was to prompt the participants to answer by selecting a single-word answer, such as yes or no, from multiple-choice questions (Alharbi, Jackson, and Usher, 2020, p. 23). Since the procedure was in-person, the questionnaires were distributed to the participants and allowed adequate time to respond. After that, the responses were collected, and an analysis was conducted.
Justification of the Sample Size
In a cross-sectional study, the aim is always to estimate the prevalence of unknown phenomena using a random sample from a target population. Therefore, a sufficient sample size is required to ensure precision (Alharbi, Jackson, and Usher, 2020, p. 24). A size of sixty participants or more is recommended, which is why the investigator chose seventy individuals (Erba et al., 2018, p. 44). In case the size was too small, the researcher may not have been able to answer the question or topic under stud (Wang and Cheng, 2020, p. 67). It is advised that researchers need to compute the optimum size before gathering data to prevent mistakes that occur as a result of small size. Additionally, this helps them avoid wastage of resources such as time and money when the sample size is too large. Seventy is a good number as it qualifies for the design of the study applied and cannot be termed as too big.
Findings
Summary of the Main Findings
From the survey, it is obvious that there exists gender inequality in the video game industry. The portrayal of males as well as females in video games has been a topic under study. Despite women consisting of half of the players, as mentioned earlier, the underrepresentation in mainstream games is significant (de Castell and Skardzius, 2019, p. 836). Results from the survey show that participants believe that women’s depiction in the games often shows traditional gender roles, stereotypes, or objectification. Additionally, most indicated that women are sexualized more than men in the video game industry (Gestos, Smith-Merry, and Campbell, 2018, p. 538). The latter is linked to the male gaze, referring to the act of representing using visual arts and literature (Lopez-Fernandez et al., 2019, p. 454). It was established that there is a heterosexual perspective of how the games’ characters appear that shows females as sexual objects for the male viewer’s pleasure.
It was noted that whereas the sexualization of female characters happens as a service to users and fans, that of male characters is done due to power fantasy. From the responses provided in the section of the open-ended questions, the majority claimed that males are shown as something straight men playing the games would aspire to become (Vasileiou et al., 2018, p. 5). Apart from that, the survey revealed that these actions or preferences have an effect on attitudes towards gender and children as well. Male gamers are reported to play more violent games than women (Vasileiou et al., 2018, p. 5). The exposure is negatively connected with men’s certainty in their judgment when facing a scenario of probable sexual harassment chosen for its indistinctness (McLaughlin et al., 2018, p. 590). It can be linked to attitudes supportive of an activity such as rape.
On a question regarding whether video games possess the potential to impact how children view themselves and others, many expressed that they do. Additionally, through the questionnaire, the researcher desired to understand the reason behind less awareness of the influence on kids. It was determined that less research had been conducted before in the area, and few of the current studies are inadequate (McLaughlin et al., 2018, p. 591). The lack of scrutiny shows that there is less known concerning the matter (Styhre et al., 2018, p. 245). Through social comparison procedures, a player learns societal expectations of appearances, roles, and behaviors. On the one hand, girls expect that they become dependent victims and that their responsibilities comprising of sexual appeal and maintaining beauty. On the other hand, boys establish that their position in society is to defend and protect females (Ruberg, 2019, p. 314). Therefore, the roles as internalized by a child become for the child and later for adults.
Calculations to Draw Conclusions
Out of seventy participants, sixty-seven answered yes to a question seeking to check if people assume different roles in society due to the influence of video games. Other calculations from which one can draw the conclusions include: all seventy participants agreed that the sexualization of females was more than that of males. Additionally, only five of the respondents believe that portrayal in video games should not be viewed as inequality. In the section demanding a reason, they expressed that they trust that sexualization is done to ensure customer satisfaction. The five individuals were males, which showed that they were biased. Lastly, forty-three out of the seventy individuals believed that the male characters in video games need to be big and muscular as they are used in battles. They understand that the design is ideal but it should as well be the same for the female characters in games involving fights.
Conclusion
The researcher has investigated and found that there exists a problem of gender inequality in the video games industry, and it has an impact on society. The findings from the survey show that the way the video game characters are designed and portrayed is different for different gender. For instance, males are seen as big and muscular to show power, while females are projected more as a symbol of sex and beauty. Such ideas become a reality when the population has an expectation of how individuals in society should appear. A survey through the use of a questionnaire was appropriate for this type of research. The design and sampling method ensured that accurate and adequate information was gathered. Additionally, regarding funds and other resources such as money, the methodology can be seen as inexpensive and time-conscious.
However, something went wrong during the procedure, as some participants claimed that the research was designed with the aim of victimizing the female gender. They believed that even though it is true that the sexualization of females is more, it is untrue that women who play video games dislike that portrayal. The researcher had to state to them the topic under study and its importance. If in the future I choose to conduct the same task, I would improve on communication with the participants to guarantee time is not wasted and that they do not perceive it as malice. It is important for the video game industry to understand that media plays an important in people’s perceptions of various topics in society. It is their duty to ensure that their products do not contribute to negatives in the community.
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Styhre, A., Remneland-Wikhamn, B., Szczepanska, A.M. and Ljungberg, J. (2018) Masculine domination and gender subtexts: The role of female professionals in the renewal of the Swedish video game industry. Culture and Organization, 24(3), p. 244-261.
Vasileiou, K., Barnett, J., Thorpe, S. and Young, T. (2018) Characterizing and justifying sample size sufficiency in interview-based studies: Systematic analysis of qualitative health research over a 15-year period. BMC medical research methodology, 18(1), p. 1-18.
It is no secret that some gender disparities and imbalances are still present when it comes to compensation and job opportunities in corporate cultures. It is also obvious that “the traditional roles of both sexes are changing in today’s world” (Changing roles for men and women, n.d., para. 1).
Creating Seasons for Life Domains through Their Separation
Factors contributing to these inequalities are fundamental life domains, which are too intertwined. According to Wright and Yaeger (2016), there is an ongoing “conflict between work and life domains for men and women” (p. 33). Over the past five decades, many successful and failed initiatives and programs were launched to help employees rebalance their time for life, work, themselves, and the community (Wright & Yaeger, 2016). One can see that it requires creative and unusual approaches and solutions to be overcome.
One such innovative measure could be the creation of seasons dedicated to one of corporate culture’s four major life domains. For example, a work season would be a period when an employee works primarily in the office. Life season is the time they would perform their job duties only remotely. Self and community seasons would be periods when the number of hours of the office and remote work would be determined by an employment contract or the outcome of a discussion between the person and responsible managers. Wright and Yaeger (2016) state that it is the deep intersection of the life and work fields in the current working paradigm that creates daily and long-term problems, limits the available time for male and female employees, and consequently gives rise to inequality.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the division into seasons would allow for separating these areas from each other, potentially resolving the existing contradictions that create imbalances and inequalities in wages and career growth.
References
Changing roles for men and women and planning for effective human relations. (n.d.). American Public University System. Web.
Wright, M. C., & Yaeger, T. F. (2016). Women and work: A call to transform corporate culture to include more flexibility. Organization Development Journal, 34(4). Web.
To understand the glass ceiling phenomenon, one must recognize the reasons for its existence. Historically, societal beliefs have held women to roles that were not based on their capabilities. Early societies placed women in the home, a social role defined by different norms and expectations from those set on men. Today, women enter the same job fields as men but often face barriers that hold them back from reaching their full potential. The glass ceiling refers to this invisible barrier that keeps women from advancing their careers and reaching their full potential (Marcus 4). The reasons why the glass ceiling exists today are due to a variety of societal obstacles that prevent women from reaching the top of their field. The significant societal barriers that keep women from achieving the highest levels of their careers include, but are not limited to, organizational barriers (structural obstacles), societal barriers (cultural cues), and Personal barriers (ambition gap, skepticism, and glass walls).
Discussion
Societal barriers generally refer to how the culture at work perceives women (and men) as a particular gender. A few examples of the most common institutional mindsets include: the workplace is a man’s world (Damaske 6). This mindset can be reinforced by multiple sources, including a history of patriarchal or even matriarchal roles assigned to both genders in the work environment. Gender stereotypes and unconscious bias in traditional male-dominated cultures create the conditions for male sexual dominance. Men are seen as rational and intelligent, while women are seen as emotional and irrational. Therefore, when women are exposed to more traditional male-dominated jobs and work environments, their ability to excel in those roles is limited.
Structural obstacles refer to the factors that make it more difficult to achieve specific goals for women within an organization. Lack of adequate resources, lack of role models, and inadequate sponsorship and mentorship can make it difficult to progress and achieve equality in work (Damaske 13). The lack of women in high-level positions prevents women from valuable networking opportunities with influential executives, gaining recognition and status within the scientific community, or cultivating sponsor relationships (Marcus 74). In addition, the unequal representation of women in some occupations and industries can result in the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles and high attrition from high-power positions.
Lastly, personal barriers are obstacles that women themselves create. These include internal barriers (such as the ambition gap, high self-doubt, and glass walls) and external barriers (family, work, and friends). While women have made tremendous progress in breaking gender barriers, many still face balancing family and career issues (Damaske 9). Family choices women make around the development of their careers can affect the advancement of their careers. Women often compromise to balance jobs and families.
Conclusion
Since women tend to encounter more barriers in their career growth than men, efforts to reduce these barriers must be prioritized. For example, organizations are responsible for creating a diverse workplace to overcome the limitations of women reaching the highest level in their careers. A diverse workplace is where people with different backgrounds and values come together to create opportunities for success. Other critical interventions to de-bias the system would be prioritizing flexibility and integrating programs that support women’s career progression by targeting a diversity of needs, such as training and coaching for women who want to advance, as well as those already in management (Marcus 56). Flexible work arrangements, such as flextime and telecommuting, foster work-life balance, a necessity for women with family demands.
Works Cited
Damaske, Sarah. For the Family?: How Class and Gender Shape Women’s Work. Oxford University Press, 2011, pp. 3–41.
Marcus, Bonnie. The Politics of Promotion: How High-Achieving Women Get Ahead and Stay Ahead. John Wiley & Sons, 2015, pp 1–75.