Gender Inequality: Sex Discrimination in Employment

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Gender equality is about equal opportunity for men and women to identify their individual potential. One must be able to benefit from their participation in society and contribute to the economic and social development of their country (Australian Government. 2009). Through multiple reviewed literature on gender inequality, the overall concept within many sociological readings was the way gender inequality socially relates to employment and careers. There are three separate themes that intersect within the written literature that will be discussed. First, gender differences in historical social roles have created stereotypes on the contemporary outlooks of the social attitude. Secondly, through beliefs and values, career pathways and choices have become gendered from factors of culture and society. Lastly, occupational segregation within the workforce is still dominant, but more equality is breaking through for the future. In this research, I will identify the factors that inter-link gender within different parts of society Social stereotypes of male and female roles in society are a predominant aspect of modern day culture. The male-female distinction is one of societies primary cultural categories (Ridgeway, 2009). Through these stereotypes, people categorize males and females instantly on first interaction. Any subsequent interaction is slightly swayed as it depends on prior understanding of the other person as male or female (Ridgeway, 2009). There is growing evidence in research that gender differences rely greatly on the cultural system of interaction (Ridgeway, 1997). “Biological gender, activities and interests, personal-social attributes, gender-based social relationships, stylistic and symbolic content, and... ... middle of paper ... ... pp. 191-216 Published by: Annual Reviews • Glick, Peter, and Susan T. Fiske. 1999. Gender, power dynamics, and social inter- action. In Revisioning gender, edited by M. M. Ferree, J. Lorber, and B. B. Hess. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage • Ridgeway, Cecilia L., and Shelley J. Correll. 2004. Unpacking the gender system: A theoretical perspective on gender beliefs and social relations. Gender & Society 18 (4): 510-31. • Ridgeway, Cecilia L., and Paula England. 2007. Sociological approaches to sex discrimination in employment. In Sex discrimination in the workplace: Multidisciplinary perspectives, edited by F. J. Crosby, M. S. Stockdale, and A. S. Ropp. Oxford, UK: Blackwell. • Steinberg, Ronnie J. 1995. Gendered instructions: Cultural lag and gender bias in the hay system of job evaluation. In Gender inequality at work, edited by J. A. Jacobs. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

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