In South Africa, especially in the union sectors, there is gender different in work place. There are also wage differences, which have a huge impact on the union member and workers. Moreover, the gender differences have impact on having different earnings. Other on the unions distribution of salary shows that different gender have a lower income comparing to the non –union sector (Casale & Posel, 2008).
As a result, tit is evident that there is a big gap between men and women salary for those working in the union sector as compared to other employers of the non-union sector (Casale & Posel, 2008). The estimating result that shows of this gap different between men and women in wages is due to the fact that there are internal problems within the organization, which affects the employee’s behaviors and ability to negotiate for higher positions and wages (Casale & Posel, 2008).
Union and nonunion employees enjoy job security, although union employees have more tenure eventually and have informational gain as compared to the nonunion workers. The collective bargaining power of union workers however, may be associated with differences in wages along gender lines.
Besides, there is a form of contract employment where terms and conditions are stated explicitly while non-union worker enjoys extensive employment opportunities since they can terminate their work at will. Moreover, union workers make payments such as union dues, which cannot be negotiated.
These differences in working conditions are associated with gender disparity in wage earning in various union and nonunion organizations. However, in the past, Unions have been associated with higher wages and for lessening gender disparity in the workplace. Unionized employees enjoy higher earnings than nonunion workers.
All the same, the average earning of females is lower than that of males in both the union and non-union employees. This difference in earning is attributed to the occupations that mare awarded to both genders traditionally. For instance, women are employed in the sales and service sector while men are in the professional managerial positions, thus a notable difference in earning for both genders.
Women also have lower negotiation power and tend to be satisfied with the positions they have, as compared to men who tireless pursue higher ranks in the workforce (Card et al., 2004). In the Us, Canada and UK, this difference started in the 1980s and continued in 1990s, for union and non-union workers (Card et al., 2004)
Therefore, there is a need to ask the question as to why women have a lower salary in different countries in the union and the non-union sectors. The reason behind that is very clear; it is women, who don’t know how to ask or even negotiate for their salary. Besides, inside the organization, women don’t cultivate higher knowledge to find ways to achieve organizational change.
In some cases, some women appears contented with the positions they have, and may feel so comfortable that they forget to ask for better and higher ones, which comes with higher wages. On the other hand, men have always wanted the best for their salary and therefore pursue higher positions by all means. Since the society is moving towards gender equality in the work culture there is a need for female employees to become aware of their rights through engaging in negotiations, which would eventually be reflected in their earnings (Babcock & Laschever, 2007).
References
Babcock, L., & Laschever, S. (2007). Women Don’t Ask: Negotiation And The Gender Divide. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
Card, E. D., et al. (2004). Seeking a Premier Economy: The Economic Effects Of British Economic Reforms, 1980-2000. London: University of Chicago Press.
Casale, D., & Posel, D., (2008).‘Who Replies In Brackets And What Are The Implications For Earnings Estimates: An Analysis Of Earnings Data From South Africa’. Economic Research Southern Africa.
Introduction to Gender Inequalities in the Workplace
According to Massey (34), many people confuse gender with sex, which involves biological differences between a male and a female. Many societies and cultures in the world create distinctions between individuals based on gender. In many societies, men are superior to women (Burstein 342).
The distinction is displayed through the aggressiveness of men in the society. The fact that men are more aggressive than women has brought about gender inequalities in the society. As a result, inequalities have led to disparities with regard to social roles allocated to either gender.
In this analytical paper, the author briefly looks at organizational theory and how it affects employees. The author critically examines some of the factors associated with gender inequalities in the society. Special attention is given to gender inequalities in Saudi Arabia and in the Middle East.
In addition, the author highlights some of the changes proposed to deal with the situation. The paper takes the form of a ‘personal case analysis’, which is based on the findings made in the case study conducted earlier. The events in the case study are interpreted and analyzed using a comprehensive ‘four- frame’ structure.
Organizational Theory: A Summary
In this personal case analysis, the author critically reviews the events in the case study, and how the events are related to organizational theory. To this end, the author interprets the events in the case study from the perspective of the organizational theory.
The theory complements the four- frame analysis carried out in the paper. As a result of this, it is important to provide a brief summary of this theory. The summary will give the reader an idea with regard to how the theory is tied to the events in the case study.
According to Burstein, “organization theory is (the) study (of) the benefits of identifying common themes (……) for the purpose of solving problems, maximizing efficiency and productivity…….(and) meeting the needs of stakeholders” (p. 45).
Organizational theory is subdivided into three categories. The three are individual, group, and organizational processes.
One of the issues addressed in the theory’s individual concept is motivation among individuals. To this end, the theory seeks to identify how and why individuals are motivated. It identifies the differences between the personality traits of different employees.
In addition, the theory’s individual concept seeks to define the roles that one is capable of effectively executing in the organization without creating ambiguities.
The second category of the theory touches on group processes. According to the provisions of the group processes category, the organization should create working groups for the employees. The employees will effectively communicate with each other within such groups.
In addition, the employees will effectively synchronize their actions with those of other employees for the benefit of the organization. Under group processes, the organization should come up with a leadership structure, where the leader has power over the subordinates.
In addition to this, the leader should have the ability and capacity to influence the subordinates, helping them to effectively execute the tasks assigned to them.
Under organization processes, the entity is expected to come up with a unique model. The model will differentiate the organization from the other entities operating in the market or in the same industry (Rania 15). To this end, the model defines the structure of the organization with respect to that of other organizations.
In addition, the model defines the division and flow of power in the organization. In most cases, organizations create their own culture, which is specific to its working environment.
As a result, employees co-exist peacefully with the management team. The two groups combine their efforts and work towards the achievement of the set goals.
The three concepts analyzed above impact significantly on the operations of the organization. To this end, the three concepts determine how gender is perceived in the organization. They are used in interpreting the events analyzed in the case study provided earlier.
Sources of Gender Inequality
The notion of superiority of one gender over the other has locked women out of leadership positions. The women are believed to perform better as assistants than as leaders. The belief is evident in Ms Haneen’s case.
Patriarchy, which is defined as the dominance of men in the society, is evident in many societies in the Middle East. It has negatively affected the participation of women in development processes. For example, very few women participate in such sectors as paid labor, education, and leadership compared to men.
Cultural and religious diversities have significantly altered the structural frame of many societies in the world today. The roles and responsibilities of women in the society find their meanings in culture and religion. Gender roles are inspired by cultural values, norms, and various cultural practices.
In most cases, the role of the woman in the society is limited to housework. As a result, the women who manage to secure formal employment are considered as lucky (Hurst 176). The women themselves consider this as double work, struggling to strike a balance between office work and domestic chores.
Religion has traditionally favored men over women. Men are regarded as the sole breadwinners in the family. As a result, women are discouraged from participating in labor related activities.
According to the teachings of Islam, women are supposed to conduct themselves as competent housewives. They are tasked with the responsibility of raising their children according to the teachings of the Quran (Wood 213).
Patriarchy has found its way into the work place. It is a fact that most women are highly qualified compared to men. In addition, some of them have vast experience in their field of expertise. In most cases, their performance is outstanding. An example of such a woman is Ms. Haneen.
In spite of this experience and qualifications, the women are not given the opportunity to work in managerial positions. The failure to promote women to higher leadership positions is associated with the structure of the society. In addition, the failure is associated with the views, beliefs, and opinions held by people in the society.
Political structures and opinions regarding what women symbolize in a society are also to blame for this failure. It has led to low self- esteem among women in the work place.
In addition, it has reduced the morale of women in the work place. The performance of women in the workplace declines as soon as they learn the ‘hard truth’ (Wood 129).
As a result of weakened economic growth in the 1990s, most employers preferred to hire men as opposed to women. The preference was buttressed by the notion that “men’s income is more important to their families” (World Bank 34).
On realizing this, women dropped out of the labor market. They dropped out of the market on realizing that their likelihood of getting hired was significantly reduced.
The United Nations Development Program (herein referred to as UNDP) has termed the ongoing gender inequalities in the Arab nations as a ‘significant obstacle to human development’ in that region (Rania 3).
Gender inequality negatively affects human development given that a significant number of women in the region are illiterate. In addition, very few women are engaged in formal employment. Illiteracy among women has negatively impacted on living conditions, leading to high rates of diseases and death in the country.
A Structural Frame
Just like any other organization, the KPMG’s major goal is to make profits from its operations. Another objective of the organization is to expand its market share.
In addition, the organization needs to subdue the competitors and emerge as the leader in the market in terms of tax consultancy, auditing, and ‘executive search and selection’ of employees.
The objectives of this organization will be achieved by getting the right people to work for the organization. For a very long time, female employees have shown their determination in achieving the set goals and objectives.
The female employees have proven this by effectively communicating with the managers and other stakeholders. In addition, the employees have proven their efficiency in using the available resources to meet the objectives of the organization. They relate well with their fellow employees.
As a result, they enhance the experiences of other people in the organization. The ability of women to achieve this in the workplace is vividly illustrated by Ms Haneen in the case study.
The women are capable of maintaining a formal relationship with their superiors and fellow workmates. They have proved their ability to diligently execute the tasks assigned to them by the managers. In most cases, they perform better than their male colleagues.
There are various reasons why KPMG have encouraged female employees to participate in the running of the organization. For example, the organization is an ‘equal employer’, treating men and women equally. 60% of employees in the organization are male, while 40% are female.
However, there are various aspects of gender discrimination evident in the organization. For example, the policies of the organization discourage women from holding top positions in the entity. The women can only rise to the level of assistant manager. It is a discriminatory policy by all measures.
In addition, the policy contradicts the reality considering that women are the most hardworking employees in the organization compared to men. The discrimination extends beyond the confines of KPMG. For example, only 10% of political leadership positions in Saudi Arabia are held by women (Rania 7).
The main reason for this is that women are regarded as ‘non-able leaders’ (Rania 7). In addition, it is feared that women cannot effectively command the respect and loyalty of their male counterparts due to the entrenched inequalities in the society.
Women are sexually harassed in the workplace. KPMG has failed to put in place effective channels to help these women in dealing with this form of abuse.
Cases of sexual harassment have increased in the recent past. However, only 40 percent of these cases are reported in Saudi Arabia (ILO 19). The lack of a proper reporting system has significantly led to an increase in the number of sexual harassment cases.
Disparity in salaries and remunerations is another significant issue in the organization. In spite of the fact that the laws provide for ‘equal pay for equal job’ to both men and women, the organization continues to pay men more than women.
According to Rania (12), the gap in salaries ranges from 54 to 90 percent in most Arabic countries. KPMG is one of the organizations in the country affected by this discrepancy.
People Frame
Women are regarded as the pillars of the society. They are responsible for nurturing and socializing children in the society. They lay the foundation of the society through the family units.
Their responsibilities are anchored on the belief that women are homemakers. As a result, they are denied the opportunity to participate in any economic activity that will take them outside their homes.
Women who are bold enough to venture into formal employment are discouraged by the disparities in payment. The disparity has seen many women drop out of formal employment (Norton & Hoffman 272).
The failure to get promotions in the work place has significantly affected their morale. Measures should be put in place to encourage more women to join paid labor.
Some women lack the skills required to carry out certain tasks. The lack of skills is brought about by discriminations in the education sector.
Most communities in the Middle East believe that the role of the woman is to safeguard the wealth of her husband. As a result, many women do not attend school. As a result of this, men have ended up filling the gaps left by women in the labor market.
A Political Frame
In the Middle East, most politicians are men. Participation of women in politics is discouraged by the constitution. The main reason why women are discouraged from participating in politics is that they are regarded as inferior to men.
As a result, many people believe that women cannot lead or command men. The number of women in leadership positions is shrinking at a very high rate. The trend is evident in both public and private organizations in Saudi Arabia.
Women are unable to fight for their rights. It is one of the reasons why they are denied participation in leadership.
The World Bank notes that women are “barred from taking part in most of the social and economic events” (World Bank 13). The disparity has brought about social conflicts, especially when women stand up to fight for their rights.
Activists have piled pressure on the organization to include women in the management team. As a result, KPMG formulated policies to encourage the participation of women in the workplace. In most cases, there are very few managerial posts available in the organization.
The scarcity is one of the reasons given by the organization to justify their discriminatory policies. To appease the critics, women were offered assistant managerial posts in the organization.
A Symbolic Frame
Some corporations use women symbolically. For example, Emirates Airways employs female cabin crews to enhance the image of the organization (Hekman et al. 291).
However, other entities have failed to embrace the practice of altering their organizational structure to accommodate more female employees.
Female employees symbolize high quality services likely to meet the needs of the clients. As a result of this realization, many organizations have adopted a new formula in recruiting their staff.
In most cases, new recruits in organizations are composed of 40% females and 60% males. The policy was adopted by KPMG.
The restructuring in the organization is motivated by external pressure, including provisions in the labor laws. As a result of their likeable nature, women employees are engaged in the customer care departments, where they are expected to improve the relationship between the organization and the customers.
Gender Inequality in the Workplace: The Way Forward
Currently, gender inequality in the Middle East stands at 10 per cent compared to 18 per cent in the world (OECED 34). The statistics are low because women engage in unpaid labor. The observation calls for reforms in various sectors of the economy. The reforms should be geared towards exploiting this untapped labor force.
The Arab nations are regarded as fairly rich compared to other nations in the world as a result of their unexploited female labor force (World Bank 14).
Analysts argue that if this labor force is fully exploited, labor productivity in the region will significantly increase due to competition. In addition, the participation of women in paid labor will increase tax revenues for the government.
The organization, as well as the government, should review existing policies to address gender inequalities in the work place. Discriminative policies barring women from ascending to senior managerial positions should be repealed.
The aim is to boost the morale of female employees in the workplace. As a result, the organization will appoint managers based on their qualifications as opposed to gender. By combining experience and relevant qualifications, the performance of the organization will improve.
The observation is evident in the events that took place in the reported case study. Ms. Haneen should be given a managerial position considering that she has an unmatched experience in the Executive Search and Selection department. Her knowledge of the department’s operations will catapult it to greater heights.
Promoting Ms. Haneen is a milestone in the fight for gender equality in the organization. It will motivate other female employees, encouraging them to work hard in their respective departments.
It is possible to address gender inequality by introducing reforms in the education sector. The reforms are evident in the case study, as well as in the attending benefits.
The number of young females in the labor market has increased as a result of reforms introduced in the education sector. It is possible to achieve gender equality in the labor market if the government succeeds in sustaining this trend (Barzilai 3).
In addition, the government and the organization should address the conditions under which women operate. Some women work under deplorable conditions, something that has forced many of them to give up.
Adjusting the environment and providing other work related benefits will boost their morale. The benefits include, among others, maternity leave and medical cover.
Conclusion
Gender inequality is a major concern for many organizations in the society. It is evident when women are left out of the decision making process. It is a big problem in the Middle East. Various factors are associated with this phenomenon. They include beliefs in male dominance, as well as cultural and religious values.
Measures should be put in place to encourage women to take up leadership positions in the public and private sectors. Women should be encouraged to fight for their rights and support each other.
They should shift from their usual unpaid labor and venture into the paid labor market. As a result of this, the economy will expand and patriarchy will be effectively controlled.
Works Cited
Barzilai, Kirk 2011, Organizational Theory. Web.
Burstein, Paul. Equal Employment Opportunity: Labor Market Discrimination and Public Policy, Edison, NJ: Aldine Transaction, 2010. Print.
Hekman, David, et al. “An Examination of Whether and How Racial and Gender Biases Influence Customer Satisfaction.” Academy of Management Journal 28.4 (2009): 46. Print.
Hurst, Charles. Social Inequality, Boston: Pearson Education Inc., 2007. Print.
ILO. Women in Labor Market: Measuring Progress and Identifying Challenge, Geneva: ILO, 2010. Print.
Massey, Douglas. Categorically Unequal: The Stratification System, New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 2007. Print.
Norton, Ahmad, and A. Hoffman. A Framework for Addressing and Measuring Entrepreneurship, Paris: OECD, 2008. Print.
Society has defined roles of people depending on various aspects. Arguably, the most influential aspect that is used to determine the roles of people in society is gender. Though changes in time has really changed the way community uses gender in determining how one conducts his or her life, gender still plays a significant role in our community. Women cannot engage in some activities while men view some chores as being specifically feminine.
While men have been able to develop themselves quite easily since historical times, women have had to endure various obstacles that have been specifically meant to deter their efforts. It is important also to note that the way gender is used in society particularly in public life is different among various societies. While women in most developing countries have limited public opportunities their counterparts from developed nations have higher chances.
To begin with, it would be important to define what is meant by gender and gender differences for that matter. While many people assume that sex and gender is one and the same thing, the same is not the case. Sex refers to inborn characteristics that are used to differentiate between a male and a female human being (Jiwani 175).
On the other hand, gender refers to the traits that society has associated with the fact of a person being a man or a woman. Society assumes that men and women have different physical and mental characters that require different treatment. In this regard, society has over years made people to belief that different roles and behaviors are expected of a person depending on whether the person is a man or a woman. It is important to note that gender roles and differences change over time and they are not the same among different cultures.
Gender influences everything including lifestyle of people. Moreover, gender has been used in some communities to regulate the access that people have to various resources including land, education, political power and financial services. Ideas about gender rule everyday lives of people in every sector of the society.
They determine the roles and responsibilities of people in the family and the community at large. Division of labor is based on gender differences as outlined in every community (Ghanim 92). Educational, professional and other opportunities of advancement are all dependent on gender.
It should be noted that throughout history, women have been disadvantaged as far as gender differences is concerned. Women have been made to believe that their work is only domestic. Yes, they are involved in production but their productivity is low with most of it going unpaid. There are a lot of obstacles that women come across in their endeavors to empower themselves.
Firstly, economic resources are usually limited for women who are then unable to have the economic power that will make their public life significant. In this regard, only few women have had the opportunity of making it to the public limelight. It is important to note that these obstacles were more pronounced in traditional times a reason as to why very few women were public figures then. Secondly, discrimination against women in employment is prevalent (Martin 117).
Women have limited opportunities on the ranks they can hold in various organizations or even the careers to choose from. This coupled with the limited opportunities that women have to access higher education has limited chances of women to participate on national issues (Bruckner 115). Nevertheless, women have in the recent years seen a reduction in some of the obstacles that hinder their participation especially in the labor market though the obstacles have not been fully eliminated.
Gender stereotypes continue to affect women in every sector of the society. In most societies, women are taken as weak people who are very emotional and therefore would not be able to deal with tough national issues. Consequently, people have been very skeptical when it comes to having women leaders. All over the world, women politicians face heavy challenges in their careers.
They first of all lack the economic resources that are necessary to mobilize the electorate to support them. Besides, people are rarely willing to support women candidates for any political seat. Moreover, women have always to double up as family overseers thus reducing the length of time they can dedicate to productive work. This reduces their income and thus economically impairs the women (Ghanim 67). It is also important to note that most employers pay women less compared to men for the same job description.
Due to the above factors, the number of poor women has been increasing over the years. While men go to work in the manufacturing or the mining sector where their income is higher, women are left to take care of the children and tender for crops. It should be noted that they lack resources to improve agricultural production thus their output in very low.
The disintegration of traditional social structures is not doing any good to women. They have become single mothers because of the increased divorce rates due to what has been described as modernity or westernization. Poverty becomes a burden to women than men because in the event that any family lacks the economic power to send all the children to school, the female children are forced to drop out so that their brothers can be educated.
Unfortunately, girls are forced into early marriages especially in developing nations and this totally halts any development plans they might have had. Similarly, even where education is available for both men and women, women find it hard to advance their education especially after getting married.
While nothing prevents men from furthering their education, women have to choose between taking care of their family and studying; the first option always prevails (Jiwani 127). Consequently, educational gaps between men and women are significant thus limiting chances of women to make their public life any good. The fact that this has increased dependency of women on men has actually worsened that issue (Wollstonecraft 35).
As noted there before, gender differences differ from one community to the other and from time to time. What was considered as feminine roles in the 1800s is not necessarily taken to be so nowadays. What Asia considers as roles of men in society or national aspects are not necessarily the same in other parts of the world especially North America. In Asia, poverty levels are high than they are in North America.
Consequently, discrimination based on gender is so rampant in several Asian countries. In all aspects of the economy, the Asian culture has made women to play second fiddle to men (Andersen 6). Cultural stereotypes were impended in social structures historically and this has made women economically underdeveloped compared to women. Nonetheless, discrimination based on gender differs from cultural background to another. Women have limited access to education and medical institutions and this has hindered their enhancement.
Domestic violence is much pronounced in some cultures. Women are exposed to violence early in life given that early marriages are very common. It is important to note that due to low average levels of income, literacy levels among women are low in many Asian countries. Consequently, women usually do not compete favorably with men on several aspects. As a result, most women are relegated to be just doing house chores and other low paying mostly part time jobs.
Not very many women are found in influential positions in society. This is because not only are women less educated but they are also made to believe that higher job positions require a lot of time which they do not have. The fact that extended families are an order of the day in most Asian countries, the role of women is made more difficult. Women have to take care of the in-laws, children and the extended family at large which highly reduces the time they have to engage in other activities (Pizan 176).
In their role as family caretakers, women are supposed to shelf any dream or ambition that they may have for the sake of the family. In this regard, whenever the family does not agree with anything a woman wants to do, she is obliged to surrender it. Women in other Asian countries for example Pakistan are viewed as commodities that can be owned by men.
Therefore, when a woman is married she automatically becomes a property of her husband who determines what she can or cannot do (Andersen 16). It is important to note that men have used this chance to adversely limit the opportunities that are available for women.
Moreover, men solely dominate the process of decision making both at domestic and national levels. As a result, women have been culturally trained to respect anything the man says no matter how wrong it may sound. This cultural believe has made women subordinate to men and ensured that women do not succeed in life. Religion has also been used to reinforce the misconceptions about gender differences in Asia.
Among primitive ideas that have been advanced by religion is that women are supposed to adhere to what their husbands say without question. This has subjugated women into being servants of men. All these have worked against women who have now found themselves at the periphery regarding almost every issue (Pizan 177). However, there has been increased lobbying for women rights and gender equality in recent years across Asia.
On the other hand, North America has really developed especially in the years following World War II. Though traditionally women were supposed to remain at home and take care of the family that has really changed. Ancient behaviors and attitudes have really transformed making the presence of women in various national issues common.
Women have seen increased employment opportunities compared to other parts of the world. There is increased information about sexual harassment and gender equality among the countries of North America. As a result, programs have been instituted that are aimed at ensuring that women have the same opportunities as men. This has increased the number of women working in various sectors of the economy.
Nevertheless, it should be noted that women still earn low salaries on average than their male counterparts for the same job descriptions. On the same note, it can be noted that there are very few women politicians in North America. This is because people still have the stereotype that women cannot make good leaders.
Specifically, United States of America has never had a woman president since independence. Some studies have shown that women rarely get opportunities to become managers in either public or private corporations. There are some restrictions that are put in place to ensure that women cannot rise beyond given levels.
It is important to note that though many things may have changed regarding the way gender is viewed in the American society, some ideas have remained predominantly the same. Women are still seen as the people responsible for taking care of domestic chores. Though nowadays men assist their wives in doing house chores, the bulky of the job is done by women.
It is the role of women to prepare their children for school every morning while men simply wake up and prepare themselves for work. In case of any medical situation involving children, it is the women who are expected to attend to the same and even stay out of work if need be.
There is increasing understanding between men and women and cases of domestic violence are minimal in North America compared to Asian communities. Relationships at work places have been improved with all employees treated equally. Educational opportunities are equally available for both men and women who are ready to study.
Since women no longer have to take care of house chores single handedly, they have increased opportunities of enhancing their education levels. Moreover, women are not restricted on the type of employment they can seek which has seen women join careers that were preserved for men. The hours that women can work have increased because men are willing to assist women in house chores. This has increased the income of women averagely as well as raising living standards of families.
Nevertheless, there are sporadic cases where women are reported to be disadvantaged. Some men still think that women cannot be able to individually make good decisions. Therefore, these men are not ready to share any success they achieve with women either at work place or at home. Men still hold key positions in various economic sectors and women fighting for these positions face challenges given that they lack the necessary resources.
Gender stereotyping is a reality that we have to deal with in our society. Various cultures in the world define roles of people depending on whether the person is a man or a woman. In all these, it is women who have been on the receiving end. Increased educational levels will go a long way in enhancing gender equality.
Both men and women should be given the same education in the same institutions to give them equal competing opportunities (Wollstonecraft 36). It is important to note that in economies where women are empowered, living standards are high. However, traditional roles have greatly changed in various cultures with the wake of globalization which is more or less integrating the world.
Works Cited
Andersen, Margaret L. and Howard F. Taylor. Sociology: Understanding a Diverse Society. Stanford: Cengage Learning, 2006. Print.
Bruckner, Hannah. Gender Inequality in the Life Course: Social Change and Stability in West Germany 1975-1995. Piscataway: Transactions Publishers, 2004. Print.
Ghanim, David. Gender and Violence in the Middle East. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2009. Print.
Jiwani, Yasmin. Discourses of Denial: Mediations of Race, Gender, and Violence. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2011. Print.
Martin, Terry L., and Kenneth J. Doka. Men Don’t Cry—Women Do: Transcending Gender Stereotypes of Grief. New York: Taylor and Francis, 2000. Print.
Pizan, Christine De. “The Treasure of the City of Ladies.” Reading the World: Ideas that Matter. Michael Austin. New York: W W Norton & Company Incorporated, 2010. 175-184. Print.
Wollstonecraft, Mary. “On National Education.” Reading the World: Ideas that Matter. Michael Austin. New York: W W Norton & Company Incorporated, 2010. 35-38. Print.
This journal submission is about gender based violence at Frostburg State University. After examining the website, it is clear that all information relating to gender based violence can be obtained from the office of the Advisory Council against Gender –Based Violence. The information at the office provides vital information on the prevalence of gender-based violence at Frostburg State University. In addition, the office of the Advisory Council against Gender –Based Violence also mandated to subject the perpetrators to disciplinary hearings.
The Office of Student & Educational Services keeps records of all the criminal charges and all the bias-motivated incidents which violate students’ codes of conduct within FSU community. Vital information on gender-based violence can also be accessed from the office of Title IV Coordinator which is responsible for overseeing all complaints related to gender based violence at the college. More information can also be solicited from the Dean of Students’ Office. However, since individual counseling is done confidentially on issues related to sexual matters, it is not easy to access the information since they are confidential.
Based on the statistics provide by US Department of Education (2011), it is estimated that 20% of female students will be victims of gender based violence while at college, 6% of male students will also face the same acts of violence, while 90% of all the reported sexual assault cases will be done by people known to the victims. The police also keep vital information on issues relating to gender based violence; since victims are encouraged to call the FAU police as soon as possible after the incident.
There are vital information at Frostburg State University website which guides victims of gender-based violence in handling cases of gender based violence. First and foremost, it is necessary to be safe in case a victim happens to be the target of the violence. The victims are advised to remain very calm and get to a safe location. The assault should then be treated seriously even if others minimize the intensity of the violence. It is also important to understand that the fault is of the abuser.
It is also vital to offer support to the victims by laying out options for them to make a decision. Medical attention is encouraged since there may be internal injuries which may not be visible. Gender based violence may be a problem for the Frostburg State University community. Gender based violence, such as sexual assault and domestic violence is a major issue facing many college students today and mostly women are at risk. It is estimated that one in every five women will be victims of gender based violence during their college years.
The college administration at should invest in recent developments and practices aimed at preventing and addressing issues pertaining to gender-based violence. Rules should be developed which outlines how best to create and promote a learning environment which promotes campus norms of interpersonal respect as well as non-violent relationships.
In addition, the college administration should develop policies which address the various forms of violence in a comprehensive manner which will be vital in increasing the number of effective prevention coupled with early intervention programs. The policy initiative should aim at offering Frostburg State University community with the required tools and resources to foster healthy relationships and better solve the issues and help those affected by violence.
Works Cited
Nicoletti, John, Sally Spencer-Thomas, and Christopher Bollinger. Violence Goes to College: The Authoritative Guide to Prevention and Intervention. Springfield, Ill: Charles C. Thomas, 2010. Print.
Nations have experienced various transformations since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Even though, there are differences at in development rates nations are struggling to ensure they adopt modern technology and transform various production activities.
There are many occasions where human progress is associated with technological advancement and these two cannot be separated (Puttergill 17). This essay explores the roles of employment and gender in post industrial and industrial societies and the relationship between people and social movements.
Definition
Even though, there are various definitions of gender this essay will base on the one that identifies the cultural and social beliefs attributed to the behaviour of men and women. Employment refers to all production activities that generate income through salaries, profits, wages, commissions or allowances. In addition, this paper will refer to both formal and informal employment as employment (Puttergill 23).
Post-industrial society refers to the modern day community where people apply technology in various processes. This period is marked by high consumption rate, political and social revolutions and globalisation. On the other hand, industrial societies refer to communities marked by an introduction of technology in various processes.
It is necessary to note that the difference between an industrial and a post-industrial society is based on the time when each started using technology. The former refers to a society that is in the process of embracing modernity and use of technology while the later is one that has already revolutionised its industrial processes.
Social movements are groups established to advocate for the rights of marginalised people in the society. They are formed by people living similar lives and experiencing same challenges.
The Role of Gender and Employment in Industrial and Post-Industrial Society
Gender has always played a significant role in developing homes, societies and nations. This is attributed to the fact that human beings are controlled by what they see, hear or experience in the society. Socialisation processes are influenced by traditions, cultures and community preferences and this means that societies have different socialisation processes (Puttergill 57).
Family ties and interactions between family members and other people in the society play important roles in educating young people about their traditions. The industrial society took a very long time before people accepted the need to use modern technology in their daily activities.
Societies were structured in a very complicated way where roles were assigned based on the sex of people rather than their abilities to perform various tasks. Gender became a serious challenge and hindered the realisation of the importance of industrialisation.
Traditions played significant roles in imparting gender based beliefs in young people. Therefore, when they grew up they knew their roles were associated with their sexual orientations.
A child learns various societal issues and uses them in its life when it becomes independent. The roles played by older members of the society play significant roles in educating young people about their future roles. Traditionally, men were bread winners and made sure they provided food and security to the rest of the population.
There was no way women could have participated in developing their societies since their roles were restricted to the kitchen and child bearing. This means that there were very few productive people in the society and this was a major cause of technology stagnation.
Gender became a guiding principle in the allocation of resources and this subjected many women to discriminations. Women were not allowed to participate in any economic activities. Schooling was reserved for men and only girls from rich elite families were able to attend schools. However, they were given second priorities after boys in terms of provision of school amenities, fees and other personal items (Puttergill 71).
This means that there were very few skilled people in the society and this became a major setback in developing their countries. Education offers people opportunities to explore their skills, talents and abilities and use them to develop their homes, communities and nations. There were many unemployed people in these societies since a handful of men were willing to allow their women and daughters to engage in productive activities.
This high dependency ratio meant that there were no funds for development projects. Most people survived from hand to mouth due to the high number of unemployed people in their families. A nation that has a large working population has enough funds to finance other development projects. However, gender beliefs locked many women out of employment opportunities either by choice or default.
Gender beliefs have significantly affected women in industrial societies since it has been perpetuated by both men and women. Some societies consider women to be servants and deny them opportunities to school or participate in business activities. Even though, men have played significant roles in enhancing gender stereotypes women have also played active roles in perpetuating this vice.
The post industrial society has experienced significant transformations in terms of gender stereotypes and other traditional beliefs. The industrial era was transformed by affirmative actions by various social movements to ensure women were given active roles in developing their societies. Affirmative action means all deliberate efforts to ensure that all marginalised groups were given opportunities similar to those given to other groups.
It is important to understand that marginalised groups include women, disabled, children, old people and those that belong to minority groups (Puttergill 98). Most traditions considered women to be weak and unable to perform roles that men performed. In addition, youths, old and disabled people were discriminated against in terms of leadership positions since the society considered them unable to perform their duties effectively.
However, the post-industrial societies have experienced major transformations in employment, education and leadership. These were key issues that influenced social progress and since they were addressed through affirmative actions the society was ready to listen to them.
Post-industrial societies are characterised by a decrease in gender stereotypes which open ways for social, political and economic developments. These societies have many learning institutions since boys and girls are given similar opportunities to go to school and shape their future. Most parents have realised that all children are equal irrespective of their sexual orientations.
This means that both boys and girls must be given equal opportunities at school, home and work place. The belief that women could not handle some careers like engineering or accounting is long gone and people are giving women opportunities to venture in different careers. This has enabled more women to attend high schools, colleges and universities and engage in productive activities.
In addition, the job market has been flocked by professional women who are more aggressive and committed to work than some men (Puttergill 62). People in post-industrial societies have realised that issues of development are based on intelligence, commitment, transparency, accountability and willingness to perform duties.
This has made modern societies to develop very fast as more women are given opportunities to explore their abilities. The unity between men and women has played significant roles in ensuring they handle societal challenges without basing their roles on gender issues.
Modern societies have frameworks that enable women to participate in politics, management and leadership positions that were traditionally kept for men regardless of whether or not they were qualified, ready or committed to handle their roles.
Social Movements
The Social Network Theory is an important hypothesis used to explain the roles of social movements and groupings. This theory proposes that human interests are important in establishing relationships amongst people. However, there exists personal difference that may hinder interactions between people (Puttergill 103).
This theory proposes that these differences are usually overlooked when it comes to formation of social movements. It explains that people have personal and collective problems and must develop way of handling them either within groups or as individuals.
Therefore, people come together and devise ways of handling their communal problems. The most effective way of doing this is by forming social movements that are used as vehicles to advance their needs. Even though, individual differences exist within a population people are usually motivated by communal challenges to form social movements. This theory explains that people are like entities connected by collective challenges.
All personal differences are put a side when forming these movements. A good example is a political party, religious group, professional unions and private groups. People must remain in social movements provided they want their needs to be addressed by relevant authorities (Puttergill 117). Some issues can only be raised through these movements since some states consider any external agitation as incitement.
For instance, affirmative actions are usually advanced by no governmental organisations that are constitutionally allowed to stage demonstrations to demand equality and justice in various fields. However, when individuals attempt to do this it may seem like a public nuisance and this may attract legal actions against them.
On the other hand, people leave these movements because of three reasons. First, some movements are formed to advance short term gains and they are abolished once their intentions have been realised. For instance, people can form a movement to compel their state to implement a policy and after this it becomes irrelevant; therefore, it must be abolished (Puttergill 191).
A movement can be declared illegal if its objectives contravene constitutional requirements. Some movements may be formed because of advancing political gains at the expense of innocent civilians. Some of them may be perpetuating vices like Satanism, child abuse and discrimination.
Therefore, they must be abolished once the state discovers that their operations are illegal. Lastly, people can leave their movements once they realise they are not helpful in advocating for their needs. Inactive movements have reason to exist and people cannot waste their time and resources in them since they are unproductive.
Conclusion
Gender stereotypes played significant roles in hindering development during the industrial era. However, affirmative actions have made the post-industrial society liberal and ensure men and women are given equal opportunities in the society. Social movements have become common ways of advancing societal needs, fighting gender stereotype and compelling governments to perform their roles effectively.
Works Cited
Puttergill, Charles. Group Dynamics. Only Study guide for SOC306B. Pretoria: University of South Africa, 2001. Print.
The 21st century has been characterized by the pursuit of women for equality. Sex and gender issues have been in the public domain for quite some time now. This generation has experienced more freedom compared to any other in the past with reference to the female gender. Therefore, sex and gender are issues that need to be addressed cautiously. Masculinity has been attached over the years to superiority and power while femininity is associated with weakness. Women have always been expected to take the second positions after men in all social classes. It is true there are women who are higher on the social ladder than other men are but that order is not practical. It is important to note that human beings are in different social positions and this has to be considered when looking at the position of a woman.
Even though a woman can achieve a higher position in the social ladder than some of her male counterparts, if she is compared with the males in her standard brackets, she is still in an inferior position. This notion is created in humans from a very young and tender age. For instance, a male child is taught that to be a man one must never show or let his emotions be displayed in public. Men believe they are superior to women and that women should listen to them and not the other way round. I believe the author is correct in asserting that the greatest losers in most cases after a divorce are women. This is true because of the societal beliefs that have been laid. For instance, men will go out and date as many women as they wish. The society will not have a problem with that at all.
However, when a female does the same, even the thought of it is formidable. Women are considered immoral and irresponsible when they get into multiple sexual relations while their male counterparts are seen as heroes for doing the same. These disparities constitute and propagate the looming imbalances in the society especially between the boy and the girl child. The author seems very concerned about the gender imbalances and stereotypes based on societal upbringing. The society has created a prism of differences that makes and defines individuals as well as mapping out their expected societal roles. Of course it is not true that men do not cry neither is it true that women are weaker than men are. It depends on which dimension the measure of strength is directed.
Taking for instance masculinity, men are more masculine than women are because genetically women are softer and gentle. However, looking at other dimensions such as brains and skills, it is deceiving and ill intended to propagate the notion that women are weaker than men are. The author is disturbed by the generalization of some attributes to a gender, which may not always be the truth. For instance, it is commonly known worldwide that women are gossipers. However, the truth of the matter is that whereas there are women who love gossiping, men too are affected by the same behavior. Men are also known to be strong and persevering. Display of emotions is a sign of weakness but the truth is, just like women, men get hurt, cry, and harbor emotions.
The relationship between men and women needs to be reviewed once again to have a homogenous approach of both genders. The author is trying to bring our attention into the oppressive environment that the female gender undergoes. In the professional arena, women are finding it very rough to cope or even work effectively. For a woman to be promoted to a better and higher rank, she has to pay the prize for it despite her qualifications. These cases have been reported and rumored about in almost every industry. Apparently, managers and head of departments will offer such favors for sexual relations while men will get the promotion based on their qualifications.
Getting ahead in their careers, women have to comprise a lot or go through under great pressure. Apart from sexual harassment, they work under harsh conditions where fellow colleagues despise them for the simple reason that they are women. Women are not offered a level competing ground with their male counterparts. Normally they undergo great harassment and some men led by their ego deliberately frustrate their efforts. These issues are at the heart of the author’s arguments that women have to fight twice as much as men in order to reach at a favorable standard of the social classes. Sex and gender issues are subjects of a broader audience since this, unlike racism, affect the entire world.
There are several instances where gender inequality has been seen to occur especially in the case of divorce. Women are the most affected parties of a divorce situation and this is evident throughout the entire world. Divorced women suffer financial loss greatly compared to their male counterparts. In addition, the stigmatization placed on divorced women is far much tormenting than in men. Primarily, it is quite difficult for a married and divorced woman to find another husband. Men are not attracted to women who have had a broken marital relationship or women who already have kids. Divorced women are discriminated against and the society puts the blame on them even if the man was responsible for the breaking up. It is true gender is organized and experienced differently depending on which side of it an individual stands on. Looking at gender in an approach that displays equality is fundamental because it helps one to analyze the disparities in the experiences of the two gender sides and be able to identify them.
There are differences between the two genders that influence their experiences but the difference is not necessarily a reflection of who is better. These differences are made to complete one another. Thinking of it as a football match, the fact that the goalkeeper is taller than the striker who scores do not necessarily mean that either of them is more important, equality should take a lead. The team works together to achieve a goal and a combination of a tall goalkeeper and a good striker guarantee the team a win. The same should be the case with gender differences. Masculinity should not be used to suppress members of the opposite gender but the two should work as a team and reach a level of equality that is acceptable and comfortable for all. This is the best way to approach sex and gender issues and offer solutions.
Sex and gender are often confused while they mean different things. Sex is a set of biological and physiological characteristics. Gender refers to “an internal sense of being male, female or something else” (“Transgender Today” par. 1). In other words, gender is composed of behavior, social roles, expectations, and actions of the person. Some popular stereotypes of being masculine or feminine impact the person’s perception by others.
For example, a typically feminine image involves social and communication skills, emotional support, and need in protection while a typical masculine role assumes independence, dominance, and resoluteness. It is considered that feminine representatives wear dresses and skirts while masculine ones should be dressed in a formal suit. At that, dress practices can help people to express their gender that sometimes can cause societal rejection.
To understand the issue of gender, it is necessary to identify the term gender identity. This term can be referred to as an experience of the person of his or her gender. As a result, one can note the establishment of gender continuum that includes the extension of the gender spectrum outside the traditional binary system. For example, it is possible to point out transvestites wearing sex-opposite clothes or transsexuals who underwent sex-change surgery.
At this point, it is important to note the phenomenon of transgender when the gender of the person does not coincide with their sex listed on a birth certificate. Many Americans are against transgender making them the nation’s most marginalized citizens (“Transgender Today” par. 9). Although there is a tendency towards the strengthening of rights of transgender people, they have to encounter resistance from the government that is expressed in inappropriate health care or even refusal to provide it or the ban of the Pentagon to join military service.
I can state that my gender identity is also formed under the influence of a set of social norms, events, and tendencies. Considering gender identity in a way suggested by Lorber who states that it is “a social institution”, I understand the strong connection between my own gender identity and social standards (“Night to his day: The social construction of gender” 16). Gender construction begins with the sex identified by the birth certificate and can be developed throughout life.
My initial gender identity was established in my childhood within the framework of family values and upbringing attitudes. Lorber believes that religion, language, and culture set certain standards that are based on gender differences (“A World Without Gender: Making the Revolution” 15).
Thus, gender is determined not only by private processes such as interpersonal communication and interaction in the family but also by social relationships and is the cause of social stratification which causes the hierarchy in society. Both cultural and social factors affected my gender identity. For example, it is common and widespread to dress unisex clothing that blurs boundaries between females and males. As a result, I also tend to wear unisex clothing likewise the majority of my peers.
In my opinion, wearing men’s or women’s clothes would not look inappropriate in the case of the absence of stereotypes about how women and men are to be dressed. Under inappropriate clothing, society still can distinguish the traits belonging to definite gender categories. Lorber notes that “their dress, appearance, and mannerisms fall within the range of what is expected from members of the opposite gender” (“Night to his day: The social construction of gender” 14). Indeed, a transvestite is just a woman dressed as a man or just a man dressed as a woman.
Works Cited
Lorber, Judith. “Night to his day: The social construction of gender.” Paradoxes of Gender. Ed. Judith Lorber. New Haven: Yale. 1994. 13-36. Print.
Lorber, Judith. “A World Without Gender: Making the Revolution.” Sex, Gender, and Sexuality: The New Basic. Ed. Abby L. Ferber, Kimberly Holcomb, and Tre Wentling. Oxford University Press: New York. 2012. 537-544. Print.
“Transgender Today.” The New York Times. The New York Times. 2015. Web.
Gender differentiation is rather a historical process, now penetrating almost every aspect of life. Seemingly, the process has become inevitable since the moment of stating and supporting the rights of equality between men and women. The sports field also tends to admit and develop a certain level of gender differentiation, which can be viewed from various perspectives, such as a medical basis, social trends, and the existence or lack of discrimination in the sportsmen world. Being also a social institution, sports becomes a good grounding for analyzing gender specifications and differentiations from the psychological point of view.
First of all, as sport means physical exercise and body development, the medical aspect plays a very important role in the notion. Gender differentiations do not exclude this aspect, because it correlates with physical capacity and evolution of men and women. From the historical point of view, gender peculiarities in the medical field are connected with the stereotypical worldview: the image of a healthy man is something masculine, strong, having a developed body, and capable of competition. A healthy woman is the one, who is tender, homelike, and capable of giving birth to a child and preserving the hearth.
Nowadays, health advantages and disadvantages of professional sports are also connected with the stereotypical view of a healthy personality (Bandy, 2014). The advantages of physical exercise in sports include regular training, healthy dieting with the usage of certified appropriate Nutritionals, and a psychologically motivated for success personality. Thus, both genders win and gain, making sports an integral part of life. Nevertheless, there are always disadvantageous sides of any field. Here, they are mostly connected with the sports of strong gains. Currently, there is a great deal of using various uncertified drugs and steroids for a sportsman to succeed. Numerous scandals surround the athletes. The main disadvantage for a person’s health in such a situation is the restructuring of the hormone system, when women become more masculine in every part, including their physical appearance.
The supplements under discussion also affect the reproductive function in the worst way. It is impossible to differentiate between the levels of acerb influence on men and women, but it is noteworthy, that traditionally, women have a more subtle body organization, and that is why, they are subjected to faster malignant changes, based on the drug usage (Faniko, Lorenzi-Cioldi, Sarrasin, & Mayor, 2016).
Moreover, the social advantages and disadvantages of professional sports in terms of gender differentiation are no less important. Here, again, a clear-cut stereotypical view can be observed. Being a sportsman brings obvious advantages, for both genders. People see both the female and the male athletes as a strong example of motivation, hard work, and success. Everybody knows the way Olympic athletes are greeted, praised, and loved.
Together with that, the stereotype of a sportsman includes the idea of the so-called “healthy living”. They are perceived as psychologically strong and healthy people, who know, how to live in the right way and promulgate this way of living to others. Sports also influence the level of self-esteem of a person, bringing the joy and pride of winning. On the other hand, another social stereotype on sports includes the differentiation of women’s and men’s capabilities and progress. According to this view, men are stronger, less emotional, and, thus, more productive. Training standards for women are practically always lower, than those for men. Women are perceived as weaker sportsmen, which is psychologically disadvantageous for the emotional health of a woman (“Gender equality in sport”, 2014).
The differentiation in social norms for different genders cannot avoid the notion of discrimination in sports. In its turn, gender discrimination is tightly connected with the general notion of masculinity in sports. In addition to medically and socially based reasons for masculinity as a turning point in the sports of strong gains, it is also observed as the only working characteristic from a professional perspective. Here, one can come across a certain historical and social discrimination, as masculinity is something genetically inherited by a man, but not so easily accepted by a woman. That is why, the world of sports presupposes a kind of domination of one gender on the other (Messner, 2012).
Besides the domination, there is certain discrimination and differentiation in social statuses between the genders. Being a masculine power, sport is from the very beginning created for men and their psychological stability in correlation with the passive position of a woman. For instance, professional male sportsmen tend to stay in the field even after they finish their careers. There are many more opportunities for them in their civil life in becoming critics, trainers, specialists in their field of sports. Having got used to a sporting way of life, they rarely leave it to never remember it. Nevertheless, in this point discrimination leaves the frames of only the professional sports field, but shows the global woman discrimination in gaining higher positions in life. A trainer is more likely to be of the male sex, than the opposite. So, sports also bring leading masculine positions for men, rather than for women (Veliz & Shakib, 2014).
The notion of gender differentiation can also have some natural biological reasons. There are various theories on the level of equality between the genders. The biological one supposes that all people are born equal, with similar rights and level of morality. The development of inequality between genders, beliefs, nationalities comes along with the social and psychological worldview under the surrounding circumstances. In this aspect, sport is presented as social power, which is capable of suppressing the gender equality due to the leading role of masculinity in the field. Thus, the natural biological flow of equality between the genders is changed in sports to a clear kind of domination and creating the illusion that sports are created, evolved, and provided for men. This also leads to a conclusion, that the level of male self-esteem, brought by sports is much more valuable than the female one, which shows the inequality and discrimination in all its social variety (Senne, 2016).
Generally speaking, the picture presented in the analysis of gender differentiation is rather clear. These differentiated peculiarities are subjected to stereotypical views almost in all aspects. In medicine, the very notion of using food and health drug suppliers creates an image of a masculine man, which is historically right, and a masculine woman, which is inevitably different from the general female stereotypes. In social and biological spheres, one can see a red line of discrimination, notwithstanding the natural laws of equality are broken this way. To sum up, the field of professional sports can become a profound ground for analyzing the levels and results of gender specifications, which influence the whole perception of the sports world nowadays and in further perspective.
The major foundation and the cornerstone that binds a given people together, aside from the tribal affiliations is the race to which each of us belongs. Stereotypes aside, the perceptions that we hold or believe in to a large extent determine our attitudes towards a certain group of people who fall within the brackets of these labels.
In the movie “Race, the Power of Illusion”, a rather uncommon path of argument is explored on one issue that has been rather fundamental to the whole human race yet it is ignored much of the time it come to light. The movie explores race and the assumption human beings behold in relation to this aspect of our social life, and explores the possibilities that lie beyond these daily perceptions(Money, 1994).
Questions abound though, is there any slightest possibility of the existence of the idea that human beings can be categorized and handled differently depending on their racial affiliation? Are whites generally at an advantage as a result of our institutions taking heed to the perceptions that white people are superior?
A difference in opinion over what race is superior above the rest has resulted to mayhem in any two wrangling societies with different races. This is evident in testimonies that bear stories of tribal cleansing, war and even in sensitive areas such as the rules that affect immigration among different countries.
The debates about race have dominated almost all spheres of our social lives yet all of us, whether racist or not do not question the truth behind this.
Scientific evidence discards the whole behind “race” as a myth, one that is not at par with the times or rather Neanderthal. A long history of research and analysis of the differences among the different races has yielded only one result; that racial differences go only skin deep (Buss, 2001). The intrinsic delicate features that comprise the human DNA do not show any difference between people of give races.
Gender identity, on the other hand is another aspect of social interventions that influence our interactions. It s not a state of inexorableness, rather it is just an attitude that people link to certain qualities that comprise character.
The differences, though they come out through the biological standards that define the different sexes, are far apart and their classification goes deeper than the biological constants that are male and female (Gould, 1996). A break down of this scenario would to put into perspective this thought; that people inherit their sex, and not their gender.
For instance, biologically, one’s sex is determined by the result of the interplay of the chromosomes physically expressed through the reaction of hormones and other organs such as the reproductive organs. Contrary to this, somebody’s gender is to a large extent determined by the society and the norms that define the lifestyles of a given people (Gould, 1996).). The societal perception about masculinity and feminists is to a large extent dictated by their social behavior and what the different cultures practice as norms.
One school of thought advocating for this idea purports that had people’s characters and behaviors’ be dictated by the differences that arise out of their biology, then the differences universally would widen. Higher hormone levels would lead to increased activities, and that in many places their reactions would be alike irrespective of the geographic locations. If ones’ sex would automatically determine their gender then it would subsequently follow that all men and women would have uniform characters.
References
Buss, M. D. (2001). ‘Human nature and culture: An evolutionary psychological perspective’. Journal of Personality, 69, 955–978.
Gould, S. J. (1996). The Mismeasure of Man. New York, NY: Russell Sage Foundation.
Money, J. (1994). ‘The concept of gender identity and Racial classification. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 20, 163 – 77. Web.
The modern world has brought about many changes in the way gender roles are viewed by the society. The media portrays women through songs and music videos in a provocative and objectified way, and even some artists themselves seem to support the discriminatory cycle.
Most recently, the media, music videos and movies have become much more open minded and uncensored. Women are shown to play the role of sexual objects. Unfortunately, some female artists have no problem appearing as a male possession and not a separate individual.
A clear example is Katy Perry’s song titled “Dressing Up”. The lyrics explicitly mention that the woman is ready to “dress up” as anyone in the male’s fantasy. She openly says that she enjoys playing different roles and the general tone of the song is rather pervasive (Perry 2010).
From one perspective it might be seen as a hypothetical situation and carry no harm, but the fact that the matter is so private, makes it inappropriate for the greater society. There are no benefits from this sort of content, only the negative image that is majorly supported in the main stream media.
The division between genders has been evident for a long time, with history to support this fact. Women have been fighting for equality rights and fair treatment and it has almost been achieved. In the present times, sexuality and gender play a differential role in society and communication between genders. The traditional beliefs, norms and separation of gender roles have been always prevalent.
For a long time, there has been a gender difference between men and women in life and social environment. Even though there were times when women were an instrumental part of the world and family, they were still oppressed.
Through the degrading and sexual nature of the modern media, the feminist movement is diminished, as women of the present world have not felt the harshest differential treatment and cannot fully relate to women who have devoted their lives to the fight for equality and justice.
Not only has there been a gender difference between men and women in life and social environment, but extreme discrimination and external conditions of the world and governmental ruling added to the role division. The despair and helplessness are very obvious, as women were constantly oppressed and deprived of any rights.
The factors could be seen in the community itself, as well as environmental factors, discrimination, segregation and economical position of the society. In a book titled “Imaginary Bodies: Ethics, Power & Corporeality”, Moira Gatens talks about the social make-up and how people distinctively draw the line between feminism, sexism and politics, which closely relates to the strength and views of society.
It is a fact that “…a person’s gender identity is primarily a result of postnatal psychological influences” (Gatens 1996, p. 6). This leads to the fact that people create perspectives and qualities that separate people and genders. A seemingly harmless song or music video reinforces people’s conscious and unconscious predisposition towards stereotyping and social roles men and women play.
Not only does this create a vicious circle where it becomes close to impossible to get rid of role division, it separates women from the rest of society. This divides the civilization and does not add to the greater good.
Angela Mcrobbie is another writer who talks about the modern culture in her book titled “Post Modernism and Popular Culture”. She makes references to the theoretic separation of women, class division and alienation.
The mass media has identified two distinct groups of people, one being women in support of feminism, equal rights and opposition to sexism in the modern society, while others separate themselves from reality and ignore the details (Mcrobbie 2004).
But the fact that these messages and discriminatory portrayals seep through, make them dangerous, as they might be viewed as minimal in numbers, but together they create a large movement and acception. It is undeniably one of the worst influences that can be observed in the modern society and it comes from media.
When a celebrity reinforces certain stereotypes, through their behavior and attitude, they demonstrate what it takes to be ranked so highly, yet they become victims of social pressure and discrimination. While some are positive role models, judging by their career accomplishments and charity initiatives, others succumb to what is demanded by business and low ethical conduct.
Nowadays, the majority of songs and music videos show women half naked and thus, the society’s views are reinforced. It is one thing that men want women to be in the music videos and play a particular role, but women are willing to participate in the videos and even be the creators of inappropriate treatment (Plaisance 2009).
From one perspective it is possible to see that women are made out to be possessions who are looking for money and prosperous men but at the same time, there is a double standard, as the evidence speaks for itself.
Previously, after women have gained equal rights, the lyrics and the general style of music were much different. Strong appeal to morals and woman’s independence empowered women and illustrated that they do realize what is happening when men are trying to throw money or gifts at them without having any particular feelings.
The changes that have taken place are definitely for the worse. A civilized society should not portray anyone as objects, especially in sexual terms. The society that views these sorts of videos will get predisposed to the roles that men and women have and will expect the division. The most negative effect of these songs and videos will influence the younger generation.
Children will expect girls to be a certain way and will repeat such behavior. It seems that the cycle has been reversed, as women were fighting for equal and respectful treatment for a long time but now, people are starting to think that there are very few women who are able to do anything else except explicitly demonstrate their sexuality.
Partly, this is due to the freedom of expression and the open mindedness that has been so welcome in the modern times (Biagi 2011).
It is a fact that media is important to society, as it is one of the main information sources. It has many influences, and the roles people play, have a significant effect on the way society views individuals and gender.
There are songs, videos and informative materials that empower women, but there is also much discrimination, originating from both men and women. In the pursuit of highest morality and ethics, women and men must avoid behaviors and attitudes that reinforce negative social division between males and females.
Reference List
Biagi, S 2011, Media Impact: An Introduction to Mass Media: An Introduction to Mass Media, Cengage Learning, Boston, MA.
Gatens, M 1996, Imaginary Bodies: Ethics, Power & Corporeality, Routledge, New York, NY.
Mcrobbie, A 2004, Post Modernism and Popular Culture, Routledge, New York, NY.
Perry, K 2010, Dressing Up, music video, Capitol Records, Hollywood, CA.
Plaisance, P 2009, Media Ethics: Key Principles for Responsible Practice, SAGE Publications Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA.