Category: Gender

Race and gender disparity in healthcare delivery pose significant challenges to the U.S healthcare system. Racial disparities coupled with lower socioeconomic levels affect the access and quality of care. In America, racial and ethnic minorities collectively receive lower-quality of care than white people. Women are undervalued compared to men, influencing distinct health initiatives based on gender. Gender disparity is often institutionalized through social norms, law, and justice disadvantaging womens health status, wellbeing, and access to medical resources. The disparity in health care is broad, including medical insurance, access to care, mortality, life expectancy, and quality of healthcare services. Therefore the minority racial and gender groups suffer the highest death rates, lesser financial incentives for healthy living, long-wait times for medical procedures, and low access to healthcare facilities. Health disparities are common in the U.S in many forms, including higher rates of chronic disease and premature delivery of pregnant mothers.

Black women are most affected by race and gender disparity in healthcare among all demographics. Compared to white men and women, they are often dismissed, undervalued, and three to four times more likely to experience death. For instance, black women suffer significantly higher maternal deaths than white women (American Heart Association, 2019). The disparity is attributable to black womens low social and economic values. To reduce discrimination in health and social care, medical practitioners should respect the diversity essential for person-centered care. Hospitals should establish policies and regulations that ensure all health workers perform their duties in a non-judgmental way. The government should support medical insurance covers for minority groups through incentives and policies. Alternatively, health professionals can adopt the 6Cs in care, including compassion, competency, communication, courage, commitment, and care.

Reference

American Heart Association News. (2021). Health disparities  even in the face of socioeconomic success  baffle experts. 

In lower-middle-class American families, the authoritative parenting style is the most dominant (Friedson, 2016). Authoritative parents impose high standards upon children and demand blind obedience. If a child misbehaves, they resort to punishment and omit explaining the reasoning behind their actions. Several reasons can explain the prevalence of this parenting style. Firstly, socioeconomically disadvantaged parents often experience high psychological and financial stress (Friedson, 2016). The feelings of distress directly translate to lesser empathy and warmth towards their offsprings. Secondly, the desire for obedience can arise from the need to cooperate to overcome financial challenges (Friedson, 2016). Thirdly, low-paying, low-status jobs frequently demand excessive conformity to procedures that the working parents then pass on to their children (Friedson, 2016). Additionally, children raised in socioeconomically disadvantaged homes are more likely to pass the internalized authoritative values on to the next generations, continuing the cycle of abuse.

In regards to gender, Endendijk, Groeneveld, Bakermans-Kranenburg & Mesman (2016) found that girls parenting primarily focused on kindness, empathy, and emotional openness. In contrast, the values of assertiveness and dominance are predominant in boys parenting. Societal gender roles can explain the differentiation between the two parenting styles. Traditionally, society negatively viewed boys displaying sensitivity and openness, and girls showing assertiveness and dominance (Endendijk et al., 2016). To ensure social conformance, parents would cultivate socially acceptable behaviors in children through appropriate parenting methods. Throughout centuries, the gender-conformist values would barely change from generation to generation. Today, however, the gender difference in parental practices is minimal (Endendijk et al., 2016). The change in societal attitudes toward the traditional gender roles likely contributed to this reduced differentiation, while greater importance is placed on the overall wellness of children regardless of gender.

References

Endendijk, J. J., Groeneveld, M. G., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., & Mesman, J. (2016). Gender-differentiated parenting revisited: Meta-analysis reveals very few differences in parental control of boys and girls. PLOS ONE, 11(7), e0159193. Web.

Friedson, M. (2016). Authoritarian parenting attitudes and social origin: The multigenerational relationship of socioeconomic position to childrearing values. Child Abuse & Neglect, 51, 263275. Web.

PICO Question

The improved cultural competence is essential to the improvement of nursing knowledge and attitudes on the transgender population. Nursing knowledge has guided nurses to interact with trans patients in multiple settings such as inpatient, outpatient, medical, and surgical. The PICO question developed for this evidence-based research aims to identify the trends in competent and culturally sensitive health care for transgender pediatric patients.

The PICO question is as follows: Does nursing knowledge and attitudes toward trans and gender-nonconforming pediatric patients improve cultural competence and healthcare disparities?

Problem Background

Transgender describes people whose gender identity differs from the one assigned to them at birth. Gender nonconforming and transgender mainly encompass other terms like transsexual, genderqueer, crossdresser, and femme queen. Generally, children are designed a gender at birth depending on genital chromosomes. For most infants, there is a correlation between gender identity and designation. However, in some cases, the gender identity fails to correlate with the one that is designed. Such children are referred to as gender-diverse or transgender.

Transgender children and adolescents experience more challenges than adults because they depend on the parents care and financial support, which can be inadequate. According to Rafferty et al. (2018), most doctors become reluctant to provide medical care to such children. Based on experts broad consensus, appropriate care for transgender children may entail social transition, mental healthcare, and puberty blockers. Children and families identified as transgender have also been presenting themselves to pediatric providers to seek care, education, and referrals. Traditionally, the group has been treated as underserving, posing multiple health challenges and disparities. There has been a growing need for formal training and standardized therapy for such a population.

The transgender youth require a high degree of family acceptance. According to Cantor (2020), many cases reported on the juvenile justice system involve family abuse and rejection of transgender youth. Parents are expected to be supportive and readily aid their children through the transition period. The parent should seek gender affirmative doctors and counselors and connect them with their children. Based on Rafferty et al. (2018), many parents have joined organizations such as PLFAG, advocating for childrens rights. They should as well, develop positive reaction towards their transgender children. Cantor (2020) indicated that familial support towards transgender youth results in positive and desirable emotional, mental, and physical health outcomes. They inform supportive individuals and professionals like doctors to create and develop a support network for transgender children and adolescents because family acceptance and support results in increased self-esteem and general health status for such youth.

Collins, C. A. (2020). Pediatric nurse practitioners attitudes/beliefs and knowledge/perceived competence in caring for transgender and gendernonconforming youth. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, 26(2), 1-7.

The study design selected was Non-experimental.

The study is a cross-sectional descriptive study with a sample of 93 participants (pediatric nurse practitioners [PNPs]). Several Instruments for data collection were used in this study. The first one was the transgender attitudes and beliefs scale (TABS), which is a 29item survey which aims to determine the attitudes and beliefs about people who are transgender (Collins, 2020, p. 3) The second instrument was developed by the author and he named it transgender competence and knowledge survey (TRACKS). This instruments objective is to assess the level of knowledge and perceived competence among participants when taking care of transgender children. The sample used in this study was selected through non-probability sampling. The researcher used a convenience sample of PNPs drawn from eight states in the US.

Lindsay, S., Kolne, K., & Rezai, M. (2020). Challenges with providing gender-sensitive care: Exploring experiences within pediatric rehabilitation hospital. Disability and Rehabilitation, 19.

The study design was non-experimental qualitative study that was aimed to identify the challenges experienced by pediatric health practitioners when delivering gender-sensitive care. The methodology used for the study was needs assessment applying thematic analysis. The data were collected from the participants using the method of interview. With the help of purposive sampling, 23 pediatric rehabilitation healthcare providers were recruited. The results of the study indicated the persistence of gender stereotypes, complexity of gender identity, and the lack of proper training for health care professionals to meet the needs of pediatric patients.

Qureshi, R., Zha, P., & Porter, S. (2020). An assessment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health competencies among bachelors-prepared registered nurses in graduate-level study. Academic Medicine, 95(12), 113-120.

The study used a quantitative cross-sectional design to identify the level of nurses health competencies when providing care to LGBT patients. Using survey to collect data from participants, answers were analyzed with the help of descriptive method to asses competencies. 116 registered nurses were sampled for participation. The study found that cultural and gender competencies of the majority of participants were limited with insufficient knowledge of prevalent conditions, health determinants, and gender-specific care.

Rider, G. N., McMorris, B. J., Gower, A. L., Coleman, E., Brown, C., & Eisenberg, M. E. (2019). Perspectives from nurses and physicians on training needs and comfort working with transgender and gender-diverse youth. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 33(4), 379-385.

The study design used in the research was qualitative design. The method of thematic analysis was used to identify most common beliefs of nurses and physicians regarding the comfort of their work with transgender and gender-diverse adolescents. Data were collected with the help of semi-structured interviews conducted with purposively recruited sample of 14 nurses and physicians working with adolescents. The study results demonstrated that participants lacked specific training and resources and experienced discomfort providing care to transgender adolescents due to diminished skills.

Traister, T. (2020). Improving LGBTQ cultural competence of RNs through education. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 51(8), 359-366.

The study used a mixed design, integrating both qualitative and quantitative approaches to measure the level of improvement of RNs cultural competence in delivery of care to LGBT patients after training intervention. Pre- and post-intervention tests were conducted to collect data from the participants. The effectiveness of the educational intervention and the improvement of nurses knowledge were measured. Statistically significant results were obtained, indicating positive impact of training. Nurses demonstrated an increased demand for specialized LGBT cultural training for nursing practice.

Article with Best Solution

The article by Collins (2020) is the study that provides the best solution and helps answer the PICO question. Firstly, the research focuses on knowledge, attitude, and beliefs of nurses and other healthcare practitioners in the context of professional training. It provides evidence identifying the lack of proper transgender-specific education and establishes the need for improved awareness among specialists and families. Therefore, the article helps to answer the PICO question by stating that nursing knowledge and attitudes toward trans and gender-nonconforming pediatric patients improve cultural competence and healthcare disparities.

Implications for Nursing Practice

The answer to the PICO question and the reviewed literature might be a valuable contribution to nursing practice in the context of providing care to transgender youth. Firstly, the information might be used as the basis for the development of training programs for improved gender and cultural competencies of nurses working with transgender youth. Secondly, the data might be applied for raising public awareness about challenges of transgender pediatric patients. Finally, it might serve as a basis for the initiation and implementation of protocols for proper provision of care to transgender patients.

Introduction

Futurama, an animated sci-fi sitcom made in the United States at the turn of the 21st century, is worth mentioning in the list of works whose relation with gender stereotypes is quite ambiguous. In one respect, it seems to support them, as several characters correspond partly or completely to formulaic images of men and women. On the contrary, the moviemakers respect for strong and self-reliant personalities, including females, is apparent throughout the series. This allows assuming that Matt Groening and other creators of Futurama sought to communicate the need to treat people in accordance with their traits, not gender or looks, to the audience.

Main body

At first sight, Groenings team may seem to have utilized a sexist approach to designing the characters as well as the relationships between them. Thus, Amy Wong, one of the female protagonists, is outstandingly beautiful but quite narrow-minded, embodying the stereotypical idea that an attractive appearance cannot be combinable with intellect. Turanga Leela, the central female character and Amys friend, supports such a view as well, but in a different way; being physically, morally, and intellectually strong, she considers herself not sufficiently good-looking. Furthermore, the girls compete with each other on a constant basis, trying to identify who is more attractive and which behavior is stereotypically female.

Upon a closer view, however, it becomes apparent that the characters are substantially deeper and actually oppose gender stereotypes rather than support them. In particular, Amy appears to be considerably less focused on the ways people look than she may seem to be initially. Her provocative outfit is actually a form of protest against the will of her parents, who try to force her to dress like a noble lady (Louden & Keeler, 2000). It would be more appropriate to classify Amys parents as sexists than those who created her since the former are convinced that a woman should look exclusively in a certain way. The latter, meanwhile, gives the character the right to wear what appeals to her, which is a stand against prejudice.

Regarding Leela, the plot shows that the belonging issues, which she is experiencing, are rooted in her low self-esteem rather than the attitude of the others to her. Being a mutant, she has one big eye instead of two smaller; this naturally makes her stand out but does not compromise her attractiveness. In her childhood, she was actually a victim of bullying. In adulthood, however, hardly any of her nearest treats her worse than otherwise solely because of her cyclopia, which is apparent from the characters behaviors and dialogues throughout the series. Her virtues, such as honesty, courage, fidelity to her principles, decisiveness, and many others, actually are the reasons why her friends respect her, and her appearance plays no considerable role. The prevalence of personal characteristics over the way an individual looks, presumably, is among the most important messages that the moviemakers sought to transmit in the piece.

In addition, the series ridicules certain behavioral patterns that are not solely stereotype-based but harmful, dangerous, and, consequently, unacceptable. Specifically, at least some of the men whom Leela dates in various episodes can qualify as abusers because of their attempts to use emotion to press on her. Zapp Brannigan, for instance, awakens compassion in her that leads to intercourse, after which he stalks her for a long period, seeking mutuality (Sheesly & Kelley, 1999). Another example is Alkazar, who pretends to be the only surviving male representative of the species to which Leela hypothetically belongs to seduce and then enslave her (Dietter & Kaplan, 2000). Both of those look dramatically miserable and disgust the audience; Leela rejects them quite soon. By these means, the authors apparently oppose the idea of male dominance and female humility.

Other episodes may look ambiguous through the gender lens as well, but in fact, they stand against stereotypes. Thus, Amazon women, where the male characters find themselves captured by a tribe of giant female warriors, may seem outstandingly offensive due to the way in which it depicts women (Sheesly & Morton, 2001). It is important to remember, however, that the series is a comedy, which presupposes ironic images by definition and focuses on the views that it promotes. Specifically, the given episode shows, albeit in a grotesque manner, the falseness of the assumption that only men need sex and can derive pleasure from it. This is essential, as even a considerable amount of women still share such an opinion, which prevents them from empowerment.

Summary

To summarize, although Futurama may seem to be a sexist series, at first sight, a closer examination reveals several directions in which this work speaks against gender stereotypes. Primarily, its creators highlight the priority of personal traits over appearance as well as actions over words, which underlies the unacceptability of relationships with abusers, although prejudice teaches women to be obedient. Other obscurant views, such as requirements for the way a woman dresses or the belief that she does not have her own sexual appetite, also are caricatured in the piece.

References

Dietter, S. (Writer) & Kaplan, E. (Director). (2000). A Bicyclops built for two (Season 2, episode 9) [TV series episode]. In M. Groening (Producer), Futurama. 20th Century Fox.

Louden, Ch. (Writer) & Keeler, K. (Director). (2000). Put your head on my shoulder (Season 2, episode 7) [TV series episode]. In M. Groening (Producer), Futurama. 20th Century Fox.

Sheesly, B. (Writer) & Kelley, B. (Director). (1999). Love labours lost in space (Season 1, episode 4) [TV series episode]. In M. Groening (Producer), Futurama. 20^th Century Fox.

Sheesly, B. (Writer) & Morton, L. (Director). (2001). Amazon women in the wood (Season 3, episode 1) [TV series episode]. In M. Groening (Producer), Futurama. 20th Century Fox.

In todays world, there is a distinct difference between gender and sex, the spread of which is especially important. Increasingly people are faced with the problem of identifying themselves as male or female. As a consequence of this fact, adults have an opportunity to make a transition to living a life that is most comfortable for them. This phenomenon is called transgenderism, and the knowledge about it is expanding every day. A particular part of this aspect becomes the desire of minors to change their gender, which is a reasonably new case. The documentary Growing Up Trans becomes a valuable source of information about what it is like to realize at an early age that one identifies with a specific gender and how important a role family and close people play in this process.

This paper analyzed a documentary called Growing Up Trans. It tells the story of several cases of children who decided at an early age that they wanted to identify with the opposite gender. However, this kind of choice is met with quite a severe social backlash, as it is believed that at this stage of development, such critical decisions can be ill-considered. For example, in the film, the mother of one of the transgender children spoke of how they were met with doubts not only from strangers but also from close relatives and acquaintances (FRONTLINE PBS). Regardless, listening to the childs experiences and having conversations to gain understanding and awareness of the decision to become transgender becomes most important.

The cinematography tells the story of the decision to change gender not only on the part of the minors but also on the part of the parents. This is due to the fact that the family, in this process, plays the role of support and assistance that may be needed on the path of young people. In addition, this social institution contributes to the construction of an understanding of gender and gender norms, as well as helps a child to determine these values. Families and schools better support kids growing up trans by providing them with all kinds of information about this topic and letting them know that it is not a problem or anomaly. A particular emphasis in the film is placed on the gender binary and the reproduction of gender stereotypes. Therefore, it explicitly distinguishes that gender is a biological characteristic of a person, while gender is how individuals identify themselves. An example could be the fact that one of the characters was born male, but he defines himself with the pronouns she/he, which are the characteristics of the female gender (FRONTLINE PBS). Regarding gender stereotypes, the film emphasizes that there is a new generation growing up that is destroying the concepts and norms characteristic of the past generations regarding gender and sex.

Thus, the problem of gender identity and gender is a phenomenon that concerns people of all ages. The distinctive feature for children who go through this process is the integral role of support and encouragement from family and loved ones. In my community, there has been no discussion of these issues, which I find negative because awareness of the topic is critical to the development of society and equality. This film, by providing new insights, has provided the knowledge that gender is an issue and can be addressed even at an early age.

Work Cited

Growing Up Trans (full documentary) | FRONTLINE. YouTube, uploaded by FRONTLINE PBS, 2021, Web.

Introduction

Addressing gender concerns is always a complicated task since addressing it from a perspective other than the one of the gender of a speaker is genuinely difficult, although not entirely impossible. Being a combination of biological characteristics and societal constructs, the phenomenon of gender is difficult to embrace also due to the vast array of factors that affect its perception, particularly social, cultural, and religious factors. In the Saudi Arabian educational setting, the issue of gender needs to be explored in depth because of the challenges that its female residents must face in order to receive a decent education. Because of the patriarchal influences that can be observed in the Saudi Arabian environment, as well as the religious sects that reinforce gender inequality, the problem of underrepresenting the needs of female students remains a concern for the Saudi Arabian academic environment.

Gender in the Saudi Arabia Education System

The phenomenon of Ikhtilat, or gender mixing, has been in existence in Saudi Arabian academic institutions for quite a while, shaping womens opportunities for exploring their potential in education. By definition, Ikhtilat implies the idea of gender mixing as the pathway to reinforcing gender equality, in general, and can be used for the promotion of equal rights in the domain of education, in particular (Geel 359). However, the influence that comes in the form of the dominance of fathers and the power that they have over their daughters when it comes to important life choices and particularly the issues associated with womens education affects womens choices significantly.

When considering the religious factors that affect the provision of equal education rights to women in Saudi Arabia, one must mention the strong influence of kehilla in the specified sociocultural setting. The notion of kehilla implies that women are not to be seen in public places with the men that are neither their husbands nor their family members (Geel 360). Since the specified concept makes it excruciatingly difficult to build the setting in which Saudi Arabian women can receive higher education, the target demographic cannot obtain the same opportunities as their male counterparts do in the environment of the Saudi Arabian academic institutions (Geel 361). Therefore, one could assume that a combination of religious and sociocultural factors and concepts has a direct effect on Saudi Arabian womens chances to get a degree.

Saudi Education System and Factors Defining It

Exploring the long-term implications of the identified limitation, one will have to acknowledge the fact that the specified treatment of womens right to education affects their further career opportunities to a significant degree. Indeed, being deprived of a chance to get the education that they need, women in Saudi Arabia will not be able to fulfill their potential and, instead, will be forced to apply for jobs that are severely underpaid. As a result, Saudi Arabian women will not be capable of becoming independent and embracing the wide variety of choices to which they are entitled.

When considering the factors that lead to Saudi Arabian women having little to no opportunities for education and prevent them from having a voice in contemporary Saudi Arabian society, the Muslim religion is often blamed, which is an erroneous standpoint, to a certain degree. Islam itself does not reinforce any principles that infringe upon womens rights for education; quite the contrary equal education opportunities are actively encouraged in Quran (Al-Bakr et al. 52). However, because of the persistent influence of radical religious sects, the idea of equality and the role that a woman can play in the Muslim society becomes distorted to a considerable extent (Al-Bakr et al. 53). As a result, women experience significant obstacles when advancing in the realm of education and career (Geel 364). Thus, changes must be made to the current Saudi Arabian academic environment, as well as the realm of the local society and the traditions that it supports.

Education Process: Male and Female Students

The issue of gender roles can be viewed as the key stumbling block on the way to the enhancement of equality in the environment of Saudi Arabian educational institutions. Despite being rather progressive in its approach toward the promotion of gender equality, Saudi Arabian proponents of equality in education have been experiencing significant problems in promoting the specified notion to more conservative members of the society (Alhejji et al. 148). As a result, even though new schools have opened and innovative tools for teaching students have been developed, female learners still encounter negative attitudes, discouraging obstacles, and an array of society-imposed impediments on their way to receiving education.

The academic challenges that men and women face in the realm of its higher educational establishments might seem similar at first glance, yet a second look at the specified setting will show that there is a certain difference between the two. For example, parental consent has been an obligatory requirement for any female student exiting campus up until recently, when the Saudi Arabian government issued a corresponding decree (Alhejji et al. 149). According to the latter, the consent of a parent or a guardian is no longer legally required for a female student to leave the campus area (Alhejji et al. 151). Although the specified change can be viewed as a massive breakthrough in the dynamics in the relationships between men and women in Saudi Arabian academic institutions, it is also representative of the limitations that women face in the realm of the specified environment. Particularly, the fact that female students are not provided with the same amount of freedom in their choices as their male counterparts are can be seen as a major problem.

Career Pursuit: Implications for Both Genders

The lack of educational opportunities influences womens chances to have a good job and an opportunity to advance in their careers. Without appropriate skills and the ability to engage in lifelong learning, thus, growing professionally, women in Saudi Arabia are forced to choose low-paid job options (Geel 359). Furthermore, the lack of job opportunities leads to women that have not developed advanced skills applying for the jobs that are traditionally deemed as female ones. As a result, the jobs that are defined as female ones employ women with low-level abilities and a lack of competencies, which closes the vicious circle and does not allow women to expand and go beyond the limitations that society has set upon them.

Assuming that there have been no attempts at empowering women and promoting inclusion in the modern Saudi Arabian workplace setting would be wrong. For instance, Syed et al. state that several endeavors have been made to encourage Saudi Arabian women to pursue new career opportunities and grow professionally (168). Specifically, the fact that a strategy based on the use of microfinance was introduced into the contemporary workplace environment to ensure equality needs to be listed among the key accomplishments of the Saudi Arabian government (Hein et al. 488). Although the specified changes might seem minor, they provide the platform for the economic change that will lead to a rise in the number of employment options for women.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that the proposed solution based on the phenomenon of microfinancing does not resolve the root cause of the problem. Particularly, the persistent nature of stereotypes that define the attitudes toward women in the workplace in the Saudi Arabian setting has to be studied in depth. Even though the promotion of financial support is bound to create the platform on which improved salary opportunities will be created, women will still be unable to make choices regarding their education and further career. Because of the prevalence of prejudices, Saudi Arabian women fear exploring new grounds due to the threat of being harassed or judged for their choices (Hein et al. 490). Consequently, while being well-meaning, the suggested innovation is unlikely to lead to tangible outcomes unless social support for the specified changes is provided.

Future Opportunities and Challenges

When considering the opportunities that could help women pursue their careers in the context of the Saudi Arabian environment, as well as receive the education that they deserve, one should consider using a vast social campaign aimed at reducing the impact of social prejudices on womens lives in Saudi Arabia. For instance, allowing more conservative members of the target community to revisit their idea of education and equality could be seen as an important step in the right direction (Al Alhareth et al. 13). Using the support of the Quran and its postulates regarding the equality between men and women, one will be able to ensure a massive drop in the level of impact that prejudices have on womens career development and education in the Saudi Arabian setting.

It should be acknowledged that the identified alterations are fraught with impressive challenges, the resistance to change from some of the more conservative members of the identified society being the primary one. It would be erroneous to expect that all representatives of the Saudi Arabian community will accept the promote changes immediately. Quite the contrary, resistance is an expected outcome that will inevitably follow the implementation of the proposed change (Al Alhareth et al. 14). Therefore, it is essential to place a strong emphasis on the ideas stated in the Quran as the foundation for encouraging societal growth and acceptance of new ideas. Specifically, it will be necessary to point to the fact that, by securing the rights and freedoms of Saudi Arabian women, particularly their right to education, one will not undermine traditional values promoted by the Quran. Quite the contrary, the fact that the specified ideas comply with the postulates stated in Quran must be represented as the core argument in favor of encouraging female education in Saudi Arabia.

Apart from conservative members of the Saudi Arabian society, a surge of protests is also expected from members of radical Islamist groups and similar sects that view any deviations from the traditional interpretation of the Quran as illegitimate. The specified step will require attracting the attention of as many members of the specified demographic as possible. Therefore, the use of social media and especially social networks must be regarded as a necessity. The identified tool will offer vast opportunities for attracting the attention of a large number of people and convincing them to support the cause. Moreover, by using social networks as the main tool of encouraging change, one will be able to invite people to discuss the issue (Alhareth et al. 13). As a result, the dilemma will gain a vast amount of social attention and will finally be recognized by the members of the Saudi Arabian environment as a legitimate reason for concern.

On the one hand, the active use of the specified tools will allow focusing on the problem more efficiently and, therefore, locate the strategies that will lead to its successful vanquishing. On the other hand, because of possible lack of exposure, parents of women that currently, experience difficulties getting higher education may fail to get familiar with the issue. Therefore, an alternate approach toward shedding light on the issue will be required. Particularly, the use of traditional media, including television and newspapers, may be seen as a solution. Coupled with changes in the legal framework of the state, regular reports from Saudi Arabian academic institutions will shed a lot of light on the problem and encourage people to take action.

Conclusion

The current situation with gender equality in higher education is rather poor in Saudi Arabia. Even though Islam encourages equal rights for education for both men and women, the influence of traditions coupled with the efforts of sects that have been exerting impressive influence over Saudi Arabian people contributes to a steep drop in the number of women receiving higher education in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, the identified issue impedes local women from getting career advancement and applying for well-paid jobs. Instead, current societal principles relegate women to having poorly paid jobs and being entirely dependent in their academic and workplace choices on their male family members. Thus, a radical change is required. The specified alteration can be attained by using social media as a tool for building awareness and calling people for action. As a result, equal opportunities may become a possibility for Saudi Arabian women.

Works Cited

Al Alhareth, Yahya, et al. Review of Womens Higher Education in Saudi Arabia. American Journal of Educational Research, vol. 3, no. 1, 2015, pp. 10-15.

Al-Bakr, Fawziah, et al. Empowered but Not Equal: Challenging the Traditional Gender Roles as Seen by University Students in Saudi Arabia. FIRE: Forum for International Research in Education, vol. 4, no. 1, 2017, pp. 52-66.

Alhejji, Hussain, et al. The impact of Formal and Informal Distance on Gender Equality Approaches: The Case of a British MNC in Saudi Arabia. Thunderbird International Business Review, vol. 60, no. 2, 2018, pp. 147-159.

Geel, Annemarie Van. Separate or Together? Women-Only Public Spaces and Participation of Saudi Women in the Public Domain in Saudi Arabia. Contemporary Islam, vol. 10, no. 3, 2016, pp. 357-378.

Hein, Sascha, et al. Gender Differences and School Influences with Respect to Three Indicators of General Intelligence: Evidence from Saudi Arabia. Journal of Educational Psychology, vol. 107, no. 2, 2015, pp. 486-501.

Syed, Jawad, et al. Gender Equality in Employment in Saudi Arabia: A Relational Perspective. Career Development International, vol. 23, no. 2, 2018, pp. 163-177.

Jane Schneiders interpretation of the fairy tale in which the demon offers to help a young woman spin straw to gold is the depiction of how industries have thrived at the expense of social welfare. The argument can be supported further by Jane Collins statement that the corporations subcontracting garment manufacturing around the world are obscure figures, promising assistance in creating wealth but mortgaging the future of the nations (Collins, 2003, p. xi). Apart from the fairy tale of Rumpelstiltskin, there exist other tales elaborating on some major changes in the world of work. A unique example of a work-related fairy tale is the story of a hyena that got a bone stuck in his gullet and pledged some reward to a crane if she removed it. After receiving the assistance, the hyena breaches the agreement by saying that even allowing the cranes head off his throat was compensation enough. The story shows how trust is important in work environments and it is why the labor market has experienced the introduction of different legal documents to facilitate the relationship between an employee and the employer.

According to Jane Collins, one of the notable ideas that have struck the garment-making industry is the mill family notion. However, the mill family idea propagated the social problem of racial discrimination within the garment-making industry. She writes: One had to be white to be a member of the mill family (Collins, 2003, p. 71). Moreover, gender disparity is another problem that this specific concept created. For instance, the majority of employees, particularly the females, were not incorporated into the brotherhood of the mill family in a candid manner (Collins, 2003, p.72). In addition, the cogitation reduced females to people who had no freedom to choose what was best in their lives. Protecting white women from contact with black men was an integral part of mill family safety and respectability (Collins, 2003, p. 72). Therefore, the paternalistic mill family was a suppressive concept aimed at curtailing the freedoms of the blacks and white females in the mill industry.

Different lessons can be learned from the case studies that are presented by Jane Collins. She argues, Managers, in the apparel industry have anciently depended on gendered ideologies of sewing work to undervalue ladies skills and lower their wages (Collins, 2003, p. 16). Indeed, this is true because, in the case of the garment industry, managers are deploying the policies in this way, justifying the hiring of inexperienced young females in areas without robust labor markets (Collins, 2003, p. 16). Consequently, inexperience is used as a guide to lower their earnings and fixate their salaries at lesser scales that are far below their male counterparts. With low wages, womens contributions are overlooked, and their work competencies are undervalued and this explains their limitations towards career progression in these mills. To address these flawed gendered ideologies against women, managers need to establish an all-inclusive community in the workplace to overcome the policies that denigrate women and their roles.

A strategy that is employed by many apparel industries is the hyper-Taylorist method of work organization. The stratagem works because it allows the firms to pay low wages and produce high-quality goods (Collins, 2003, p. 60). Garments companies maximize their production under a piecework system while inspectors assess the quality of their production systems using statistical process control techniques (Collins, 2003, p. 60). Many clothes are bound to be produced from the piecework system as a worker is paid a fixed price for each unit of apparel produced. Indeed, any worker who wants to earn more has to produce more quality garments for him to earn more from his work. Consequently, it is the apparel company that benefits more from the work as it has quality products at the prices that it had set for the production of every quality garment produced. Apparel industries are, therefore, able to produce quality clothes and employ less-experienced individuals at low wages and at the same time, juggle effectively between low labor costs and quality production.

Hegemonic despotism is a form of labor control that is bred out of geographical mobility. The result of this form of labor control is that the fear of job loss by workers is used by employers to undermine the formation and power of trade unions. After the fear of job, the loss has been created in the workers, fears of capital flight, plant closure and disinvestments, and transfer of operations replace the former (Collins, 2003, p. 9). To illustrate, the ability of firms to transfer their production operations allows the companies to pit workers in different locations against each other, thereby diminishing wage negotiations and weakening unionization. The direct effect of hegemonic despotism is that employees are forced to surrender their benefits to retain their jobs. In a case where workers unions are already formed, the bargaining powers of such organizations are weakened by the expansion of the boundaries of the labor market in which their members participate (Collins, 2003, p. 98). Essentially, the politically contrived economic realities of free trade always tamper with the operations of workers unions.

Creating global social movements is difficult as it is forming a union that unites workers from distant locations across the world. A major challenge to establishing global social movements is the existence of diverse state goals. As a matter of fact, different nations have different forms of government, and it becomes a daunting task to harmonize varying state objectives when forming international organizations. For instance, some states are religion-based while others are secular-based, and in this regard, some members of a nation would be slow to join an organization that they deem not to be in line with their religious affiliations. Secondly, there is a growing debate all over the world about wars and ideas of militarized neoliberalism. More explicitly, some governments have targeted international organizations citing their financial support as the cause of dissidence. Going by that specific reason, some nations have barred different organizations from operating within their areas of jurisdiction. As evident, creating global social movements is a tough exercise that requires a proper understanding of the policy frameworks of different governments across the world.

The book, Threads: Gender, Labor, and Power in the Global Apparel Industry is authored by Jane Collins. Collins has based the book on a multi-sited ethnography of the international apparel industry focusing on four different locations. Notably, the author has explored the effect of being a worker in an industry with a global labor market and how participating in such a market affects social relations of work and the organization of production. Furthermore, the writer has been objective in her assessment of the issues of gender discrimination in the apparel industry workforce as well as historical racial segregation in the mills. Undoubtedly, the book is a tracer of flow resources and power between four different locations, at a time when the mill industry was experiencing competitive pressure. Therefore, the book is important for any scholar who is passionate about labor, gender issues, and power in the garment industry.

Reference

Collins, J. (2003). Threads: Gender, labor, and power in the global apparel industry. The University of Chicago Press.

Introduction

Child obesity has been defined as a condition where childrens wellbeing or health is affected negatively as a result of excess body fat (Cornette 2008, 140). Because the procedures of determining body fats directly have proved difficult, obesity has been based on Body Mass Index (BMI). Childhood obesity has been recognized as being a very serious public health concern due to its rising prevalence in children. This prevalence has been mostly observed in low and middle-income nations, especially in towns and cities. In addition, it is a public health concern due to its health effects; for instance, obese children have psychological problems and are vulnerable to other unhealthy conditions like high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, heart disease among other disorders. Due to these effects, this essay covers the effects of gender on obesity in various cultures.

Analysis

In the last thirty years, the percentage of childhood obesity has tripled in the United States of America. Statistics show that in 1980, the percentage of obese children and adolescents aged between 2 to 19 years was 7.0%. By 2008, the percentage had increased to about 20%. In addition, racial and ethnic disparities have shown significant differences in obesity occurrence among American children as well as adolescents. Between 2007 and 2008, statistics show that Hispanic boys, aged 2 to 19 years, were significantly more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic white boys, and non-Hispanic black girls were significantly more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic white girls (Cdc.gov 2011, par 4). However, World Health Organization reports that women from various cultures have higher risks of being obese as compared to men. It states that girls are more than 50 percent more likely to be obese than were boys (World Health Organization 2000, 65). However, the percentage is higher in black people as compared to white people.

In various cultures, men and women face obesity risks differently, and that is the reason why obesity is more common in women as compared to men. The difference has been attributed to various factors. For instance, those women who were deprived nutritionally by the time they were children have higher chances of being obese. On the other hand, men who have undergone similar situations have lower risks of being obese. As a result, more African and Hispanic girls are obese because they are nutritionally deprived (Shrodes et al 2011, 24).

The perception of the ideal body also plays a major role in obesity prevalence among different genders in various cultures. 83.7% and 100% of obese girls aged 12 years and above from Anglo and Asian backgrounds respectively perceive their weight as being fat. However, this percentage is much lower among aboriginal, southern Europe, and the Middle East, which have 72.7%, 70%, and 40% respectively. As a result, most obese girls from aboriginal, southern Europe, and the Middle East perceive their weight as being right. On the other hand, the perception of the ideal body among boys does not vary much from one community to the other as compared to that of girls (World Health Organization 2000, 79).

In addition, the idea of income levels has also played a major role in differentiating obese percentages between childhood and adult obese between women and men. It has been found that women from higher socio-economic backgrounds have more to spend on food as compared to women from similar classes (Hacker 2008, 34).

Conclusion

This essay has found that gender in various cultures plays a major role in obesity prevalence. The high percentage of womens prevalence is as a result of poor nutrition in childhood and access to greater resources in adulthood. In addition, the desire for an ideal body also plays a major role in differentiating the obese percentage between men and women from different cultures. There are cultures that encourage women to be fat than men.

Works Cited

Cdc.gov. Overweight and Obesity. 2009. Web.

Cornette, Robert.The emotional impact of obesity on children. Worldviews Evid Based Nurs. 5.3(2008): 136141.

Hacker, Diana. A Pocket Style Manual. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2008. Print.

Shrodes Caroline, Shugrue Michael, Matuschek Christian & DiPaolo Marc. Conscious Reader. London: Longman, 2011. Print.

World Health Organization. Obesity: Preventing and managing the global epidemic. Report of a WHO consultation. Technical Report Series. 894(2000): 1-253. Print.

Introduction

The importance of researches on the motivation and behavior of consumers is known all over the world. For the last decades, within the frames of marketing, an interdisciplinary area of researches has arisen the behavior of consumers. The main purpose of both businessmen and experts in marketing consists in affecting this behavior. As a result, the science about the consumer gets supreme importance. The behavior of the consumer is the activity aimed directly at the reception, consumption, and the arrangements of products and services, including processes of decision-making that precede these actions and follow them. In that context, this paper critically assesses marketing and consumer behavior within the frame of gender and gender symbolism, specifically related to family-oriented marketing.

Overview of Gender

Gradually, sociology approached the comprehension of the fact that the division into men and women as of groups of individuals differing on some physiological characteristics is completely not identical to the division of social space into mens and womens status positions and roles.

The division into men and women is a structure set by the nature, from which two naturally conditioned status positions flow: mother and father. These positions, as well as different sexual roles, are the first division of labor programmed by the nature. Already, at the early stages of human society almost in all cultures customs of the division of clothes on men and females arise. Thus, for many people throughout centuries, trousers  strictly mens, and a dress is strictly womens clothing. The infringement of these rules has always caused an indignation storm and was perceived as an encroachment on morals bases. The children from first days of life learn to distinguish mens and womens consumption, first of all in clothes. Accordingly, when forming a family, in due course there are changes in family structure which lead to parents more often making common decisions. The gender belongings of various goods are gradually taking other forms. In connection with that fact, marketing experts search for new ways of representing goods through researches where Age, income, occupation, gender, region, and ethnic affiliation are among the most typical building blocks of segmentation research. (Applbaum 2004, p. 85) Mostly, the imagery and symbolism used in marketing are directed toward the distinctions between the ideas of masculinity and feminity. Nevertheless, the absence of specific symbols does not necessarily imply the existence of another, where the product which is not masculine does not have to be feminine.

Literature

In Bhagat and Williams, the relationships in marketing were examined based on the fact that there are gender differences in many consumer contexts. The study showed that while both genders consider the interpersonal and social aspects as well as the structural and material aspects of a professional service, women are more likely to emphasize the former over the latter.(Bhagat and Williams, 2008) In another study (Schertzer et al), the emphasis on the process of distinction of physiological structure of groups of individuals and the structure of social space has received expression in a scientific turn of terminological distinction. The concept of gender, as parallel to the concept of sex: sex is a biological term, and gender  from psychology and culture area. If sex designates biological division into men and women gender reflects feminity and masculinity. This study suggests that consideration of cultural values related to masculinity/femininity can lead to significant improvements in marketing effectiveness(Schertzer et al., 2008) A study about consumers gender and marketing in Japan addressing family goods presumes that not only goods, but also promotional materials, stores layouts establish a physical reality heavily imbued with symbolic meaning and thus, create a setting for behavior that compels people toward certain forms of action. (Creighton 1994) The aforementioned study also states that consumerism is a gendered female construction, where the services and facilities designed for children are mother oriented, where marketing accordingly is directed toward such behaviors.

Regarding the usage of specific brand symbolism in marketing, in A consumer culture theory approach, the research indicated that childrens uses of brand symbols play an important role in their social relations and cultural lives where brand symbolism is deeply gendered, operating as a key domain through which girls and boys negotiate gendered identities.(Nairn et al., 2008) In that matter, children purchases as a family oriented market is a practical field for the implications of such findings.

Conclusion

The marketing strategies, as well as many other aspects in general are extremely gendered. However, this fact does not necessarily imply that symbols are apparently obvious in a way that the user is already pre-defined. Gender marketing models vary from apparent targeted consumers such as women and children goods, to models implementing complex analysis of characters and gender roles based more on social statuses, rather than on physiological differences.

References

1. Applbaum, K. (2004) The Marketing Era: From Professional Practice to Global Provisioning. New York: Routledge.
2. BHAGAT, P. S. & WILLIAMS, J. D. (2008) Understanding gender differences in professional service relationships. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 25, 16  22.
3. Creighton, M.R. (1994) Edutaining Children: Consumer and Gender Socialization in Japanese Marketing. Ethnology, 33. NAIRN, A., GRIFFIN, C. & WICKS, P. G. (2008) Childrens use of brand symbolism: A consumer culture theory approach. European Journal of Marketing, 45, 627  640.
4. SCHERTZER, S. M. B., LAUFER, D., SILVERA, D. H. & MCBRIDE, J. B. (2008) A cross-cultural validation of a gender role identity scale in marketing. International Marketing Review, 25, 312  323.

Gender equality is an opportunity for all Americans to grow. Equality is a fundamental human right that needs to be achieved in order for society to reach its full potential. A crucial feature in reaching gender equality is women’s empowerment. This includes women having autonomy, freedom, opportunities, power, and self-worth. Despite the rise in women’s rights throughout history, women were restricted to gender roles that society deemed appropriate for them. There were only two careers that were viewed to be important to women: a wife and a mother. Being a mother is a women’s biological role and is regarded to be their most significant role by society. Frequently, the stereotype that claims women belong at home has hindered the possibility for them to expand their opportunities, yet this has never been an issue for men. In recent years, there have been numerous endeavors taken to bring awareness to this issue. For example, Emma Watson has taken responsibility on addressing the feminist movement and has become the face for HeforShe, a campaign focused on equality (UN Women, par. 4). More recently, at the 76th Golden Globes Awards that took place in January 2019, Glenn Close gave a moving speech regarding feminism (McDermott, par. 3). These public acts highlight the urgent issue that demands to be addressed of gender equality in today’s society. The controversy around gender equality has been pertinent in current news due to the aspect of women empowerment that is present in movements such as the Mommy War, #MeToo and the ongoing debate concerning abortions. These movements portray how women are the ones in control of their lives. Through demonstrating the evolution of women in the workforce, the benefits of them working, and their ability to achieve a work-life balance, traditional gender roles should be abandoned.

Feminists and anti-feminists both recognize that there are differences between men and women. Feminists express how these differences do not make one gender superior to the other. However, anti-feminists believe that the feminist movement establishes females as the superior sex. This belief is untrue because feminism is a movement that supports equal opportunity for both genders. Unfortunately, the correct definition of feminism is overshadowed by the perceived definition. The true definition of feminism is “the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. It is the theory of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes” (UN Women, par. 5). However, the definition perceived by society is that females are the superior sex. A situation similar to the feminist movement in regards of being misconceived is the controversy surrounding Islam. ISIS, is a terrorist organization that claims they follow the ideologies of Islam. Due to the propaganda and fear portrayed by the media, the perceived definition is that Islam is a religion of violence, whereas the true definition is that Islam is a religion of peace. False definitions create a stigma around the issue, resulting in prejudice. As a result, the feminist movement and gender equality suffer, hindering women’s emancipation from their societal roles, allowing them to be independent.

Throughout history, the role of women in society has evolved, notably their participation in the workforce, proving that gender roles should be ignored as they impede on equal opportunity for women. Since the beginning, women were expected to stay home to take care of their children and perform household chores, but after World War 2, there was a shift in ideology as women joined the workforce (Shah par. 1 and 4). This gave freedom and opportunity to women that was not possible for them before. However, after the war ended, men took their jobs back and women were expected to fall back to their “normal” roles. (Shah, par. 5). The sense of freedom that women experienced gave them motivation to participate in the workforce. This foundation has persisted well into the present day, which can be seen in the sharp increase of women entering the workforce. In 1970, “only 40.8 percent of women in the United States over the age of 16 were employed,” (Ziman, par. 7) but in 2000, “that number [grew to] 57.5 percent” (par. 7). Furthermore, “in 2015, women’s overall labor force participation rate (56.7 percent) was about ten percentage points higher than 40 years ago… For mothers, the increase was much steeper… 69.9 percent of mothers with children under age 18 were in the labor force, up from 47.4 percent in 1975” (U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau, p. 1). Over time, women, especially mothers, were breaking away from outdated gender roles by pursuing careers, signaling a shift in past thinking. Gender roles should not define or determine what women are able to do and to effectively fight back, the dismissal of these roles is mandated in order to bridge the enormous gap that is preventing women from achieving equality. Gender roles created by society should be dismissed as it results in the work-life conflict that restricts working mothers from being capable of juggling the work-life balance, with the exception of a few. A survey of working mothers revealed that the majority of the participants believed in “dividing childcare and housework equally with their partners in theory, but few achieved this goal in their day-to-day lives” (Collins, p. 215). Compared to men, women remain to be responsible for caregiving and household duties, which they maintain to do, despite working outside the home as well. Even though there have been discussions concerning the importance of “family members” raising children and caring for the home, this duty continues to fall on women, despite never opening up to the possibility that men can share the role as well. Old family values has created a work-family conflict that inhibits women’s right to equality. The side of society that believes in traditional family values are accountable to correct the issue through shifting away from gender roles and towards the modern movement of women being able to do it all.

Although there have been arguments claiming mothers working harms their children, there are benefits for being a working woman. On the opposing side, it is argued that, “the more emotionally and physically a mother can be present for a child in the first three years, the better the chance that child will be emotionally healthy and mentally well” (Komisar, par. 10). As a result from choosing to work while being a mother, children will face harmful consequences. The idea of a unhealthy baby elicits guilt from prospective mothers in hopes of preventing them from entering the workforce. Research refutes the assertion by explaining how women working actually benefits their family and themselves. However, statistics published by Harvard Business School has concluded that, “daughters of working mothers tend to be higher achieving, work themselves… spend more time with their children than do daughters of women who did not work; men who were raised by working mothers do more household work and help more with child care than sons of stay-at-home moms” (qtd. in Filipovic, par. 25). For women or mothers, “working correlates with better mental and physical health” (Filipovic, par. 24). The research introduces and substantiates the idea that being a working woman or mother is more beneficial than staying home. The evidence raises questions concerning traditional gender roles and how they impede on the wellbeing of children, as well as the ability for women to strive for personal fulfillment, a concept men are able to reach.

In motherhood, a problem mothers face is debating on chasing a career while creating a family. Although the traditional view of women being regarded as housewives is popular in some communities, working mothers have established a more desirable position in today’s society and have continuously proven to be successful in their work and family life. The US Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau acknowledges how despite working, mothers maintain to spend more time on caregiving and household obligations than the father, exhibiting women are capable of achieving a work-life balance (U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau, p. 10-11). Those who support the idea of working mothers have discovered gender roles to be responsible for women not being able to pursue a work-life balance. Opposers of working mothers believe that it is a woman’s responsibility to stay at home and fill their established gender and social roles. In any given day, “employed mothers spend more time caring for and helping household children than employed fathers. In addition… working mothers are also more likely to perform household activities than working fathers” (U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau, p. 10). Women continue to shatter gender roles constructed by society through displaying their capability of juggling a work-life balance. Furthermore, there has been an evolution in regards of splitting work and household duties, despite the belief that the traditional roles of father and mother should remain The first approach, is the traditional role. This is where the father will work and be the breadwinner, while the mother will assume responsibility for caregiving and household duties. The most common approach today is the neo-traditional role (Daily Illini Editorial Board, par. 10). This is where the father remains to be the main breadwinner, but the mother has a part-time job while still being held to her usual obligations as a housewife. The final approach is the egalitarian role. This separates all responsibilities equally between both parents. However, do not be mistaken in believing that one approach is superior the other (Daily Illini Editorial Board, par. 8-12). The only individuals capable of making this inference are those find one to be the most compatible with their work-life decision.

The only way for society to obtain equality, is to dismiss outdated gender roles. By providing facts and statistics on the evolution of women in the workforce, the benefits of them working, and their ability to achieve a work-life balance, it is indicated why traditional gender roles should be abandoned. America was established on the idea of equality and freedom, which are fundamental rights granted to every individual, regardless of gender. However, for women, there has been an issue regarding these rights, as society persistently restricts them to traditional gender roles that declare they fulfill their obligation to stay home and be a housewife. Gender roles must be eliminated, and if neglected to do so, America will have not only betrayed women, but also what it claims to stand for. Achieving equality for women is possible and it all begins with awareness. By accepting the disreputable definition of feminism, society conserves gender roles, denying women their equality. Instead of opposing feminist beliefs, there must be a shift towards embracing the core belief of feminism which is equality for all. This fight needs the participation of every citizen because it is an issue that affects every individual. Join the HeforShe campaign. If change is not taken now, the issue will continue to persist. Emancipate women from the relentless prejudice they have endured. It is time to fight for the future.