Gender refers to the psychological, social, and cultural differences between males and females. Gender also means the physiological and anatomical differences between the male and female bodies. Most socio-biologists believe differences in sex are a result of differences in the thinking and behavior of men and women. They argue gender identity is formed through socialization. Gender structures every aspect of an individual's life through social relationships and all forms of interaction with society including work.
Marxist writers note that pre-capitalism depended on a working relationship. Men dominated the public sphere while a woman's place was in the private sphere. John Stuart Mill (1869) wrote one of the first political tracts to address what was to become `The Woman Question' in Victorian society. Mill detailed the social inequalities built into the marriage contract, including disparate property rights and a woman's familial responsibilities. Mill argued that women should move into the workplace if they are to challenge men and gain freedom from subordination. However he also expected that women would continue to run the household and care for the children.
Mill was careful not to alienate himself from men and women in society because most people at that time believed women should stay home. Mill argued that it was in a women's "nature" to choose the role of wife and mother (William Stafford, 1998). However, recent feminists have argued against such notions and challenge the idea that motherhood is the only meaningful occupation for women. They have developed a critique of the family, which claims family is:
...ideological confinement to the domestic sphere and that it institutionalizes hete...
... middle of paper ...
...nges the status quo. Challenging the status quo or social norms means that social policy relating to equality in the home and workplace will continue to advance.
References
Bristow J Sexuality New York and London 1997
Charles N Feminism, The State and Social Policy USA 2000
Gillespie R `Childfree And Feminine: Understanding The Gender Identity Of Voluntary Childless Women' Gender And Society 1st February 2003, vol.17 no. 1 pp122-136
Kimmel M The Gendered Society Oxford 2000
Payne G Social Divisions Hampshire 2000
Stafford W John Stuart Mill London 1997
Tong R Feminist Thought: A comprehensive Introduction London 1997
Walsh M Women, Men and Gender : Ongoing Debates New Haven and London 1997
Warren T et al `Gender and Wealth Inequality' Radical Statistics E- Journal 26/03/03
www.equalopportunitiescommision.com
www.eironline.com
The word gender refers to a general classification of human beings into male and female with socially and culturally constructed characteristics, behaviors, attributes and roles preconceived and labelled as appropriate for each class. The society and culture today have placed human beings in a box which to a large extent dictates how we act in the world.
The equality of identifying in roles of earning a living, cooking, sewing, and one caring for themselves. Eastman states, "we must bring up feminist sons." (Eastman, par. 12). Thirdly, birth control. Women should have the right to decide when or if they have children, how many, and when in life, if ever. Freedom of any kind for women is hardly worth considering unless it is assumed that they will know how to control the size of their families." (Eastman, par. 13). Lastly, universally "a principle that the occupation of raising children is peculiarly and directly a service to society, and that the mother upon whom the necessity and privilege of performing this service naturally falls is entitled to an adequate economic reward from the political government." (Eastman, par. 14). She believes mothers should receive an endowment for the years dedicated to rearing children and not working in a traditional job outside the home. This provides the economically freedom and independence a woman
She further expands on this notion by providing an example of the firing of the company’s Saatchi & Saatchi chairman following his denial of sexism’s existence in the workplace. Indeed, exposure to the public can be a helpful tool in uncovering the underlying sexism that, otherwise, could prosper and, consequently, impede on women’s rise in their carriers. After all, sexism works so well mainly because its victims are usually kept in silence and, therefore, male chauvinism is given a green light to go scot-free. If such undermining behaviour is exposed then the individuals exercising it would be stopped in fear of the public’s backlash, which, in today’s connected world, can be the determining factor in a company’s survival. Of course, this highly depends on the public’s consciousness to the problem. Thankfully, as there are now more and more examples of people being fired for their sexist remarks, the public is becoming increasingly aware of the seriousness of the problem and are willing to act upon
Another change in the patterns of marriage is the independence of women and how this has contributed to change regarding relationships. Over the past 30yrs women have evolved in the work place. From doing basic jobs such as cleaning and cooking, brought about by their previous domestic role, to intelligent money making career women. Since the end of the First World War and before, women have fought for independence from their counterparts for the freedom to earn their own money and not have to by tied down in marriage to gain any financial support. Mitchell (1971) suggests three reasons for the resurgence of feminist activity in the 1960s. One looks at the political view.
The reading also discussed the difference between sex and gender. While sex is biological, gender is socio-cultural, meaning it is a social construct. These constructs create stereotypes enforced by the culture. Gender roles are formed and become the "social roles that a person is expected to fulfill based upon his
Gender is not about the biological differences between men and women but rather the behavioral, cultural and psychological traits typically associated with one sex. Gender is socially constructed meaning it 's culturally specific, it 's learned and shared through gender socialization. What it means to be a woman or man is going to differ based on the culture, geographical location, and time. What it meant to be a woman in the US in the 19th century is different than what it means to be a woman in the 21st century. As cultures evolve over time so are the ideals of what it means to be man or woman.
First, the 1900’s is a time where women are trying to put away the homemaker image and obtain work. This causes many hardships between husbands and wives. Jane is on the verge of beginning to leave her homemaker image and begin a career in writing. “I am sitting by the window now, up in the atrocious nursery, and there is nothing to hinder my writing much as I please, save lack of strength” (Gilman, 1599). Jane is starting to recognize that she is loosing her feminism. John recognizes this and tries to do everything he can to stop Jane. John knows that Jane is putting aside her role as being a wife, homemaker and mother. In these times, husbands’ do not believe that women could balance both home and work responsibilities. Jane decides to oppose the homemaker life and branch out into writing. The feminist role is “The concept of "The New Woman," for example, began to circulate in the 1890s-1910s as women are pushing for broader roles outside the home-roles that could draw on women's intelligence and non-domestic skills and talents” (http:/...
For some women, workplace equality was more important than the right to vote. The generic view around the country that was women’s and men’s roles did not overlap. This idea of “separate spheres” held that women should stay at home with the children and focus on religion, while men took care of business and politics. This idea of a house wife made women
In the chosen excerpt of The Subjection of Women from On Liberty and Other Essays, John Stewart Mill proposes the idea of how the woman’s role in a marriage with her husband is equivalent to that of a slave with their master by offering multiple ideas.
This is indeed what Mill strived for as a British philosopher, economist, moral and political theorist, as well as expert in logic. As time went on, Mill entered into the East India Company as a clerk, interestingly enough, the same place his own father had worked before. Mill sored through the hierarchical structure of the East India Company, in which he became chief examiner of correspondence. Moreover, problems arose and Mill was forced to retire. It was not until this very opportunity had occurred, in which he truly fought for what he believed in. He had continued to work for many radical causes throughout his life, such as the status and equality of women. Critics say, that because Mill’s father dominated the household during the early years of the 19th century, his mother was not permitted to have an opinion regarding such affairs. For this reason, his interest in women studies is thought to be a correlation to his own mother and her gender role due to the patriarchal society that dominated England in the 1800’s.
Mill states the that intention of On Liberty is to highlight “the importance, to man and society of a large variety in types of character, and of giving full freedom to human nature to expand itself in innumerable and conflicting directions” (Autobiography). Further, Mill defines the purpose of On Liberty within the essay itself, stating, “The object of this Essay is to assert one very simple principle… that the sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with the liberty of action of any of their number, is self-protection” (On Liberty). For Mill, this independence is a crucial aspect of a thriving society, and this independence must be offered to all members of society. Ultimately, Mill states that no individual’s rights, no matter the gender, should be hindered, unless their actions prove to be harmful to another individual. According to Karen Zivi in her periodical “Cultivating Character: John Stuart Mill and the Subject of Rights”, “a rights claim is valid… if it contributes to individual and social well-being, and… in exercising that right, [one avoids] doing harm to others” (51). Similar notions toward individualism and liberty are portrayed on other examples of Mill’s
Historically, feminism has evolved from the serious examination of inequality between the genders to a more distinct focus on the social constructions of genders. John Stuart Mill was one of the earliest feminist of his time, and has promoted gender equality through The Subjection of Women. Whether his ideas are valid, or not, Mill broke down the walls of his time by rebelling against tradition and enforcing change. This change allowed society to be enriched and be used to its full potential. Mill believed that the women of his time (and even today) should be liberated and conquer any stereotypes that they had or will
Many people believe that marriage is important in this day and age, but it holds little significance compared to the importance of marriage in the Victorian era. In the Victorian era women were to get married to a man of the same or a better social status, be good wives, and be a mother to her husband's children. Very few marriages started with love, but a woman's life is not complete without being married. Over time, the role of married women has evolved a great deal and they now have rights and privileges. John Stuart Mill was one of the great thinkers of the Victorian era, and his essay The Subjection of Women tells how few privileges women had and that they were slaves to their husbands. He also says that women are their own people and should be free. This was an uncommon view for a man of this time to have. Mill provided a much-needed reality check for the ethical treatment of women, and also generated ideas for the women's rights movement which was quite uncommon for a man to do in this period. His essay On Liberty promotes how important it is to have the complete freedom to state one's opinion. Had someone else been as brave as Mill before the Victorian era the women's movement may be further advanced today than it is.
Then there was the woman’s movement and women felt they deserved equal rights and should be considered man’s equal and not inferior. The man going out to work, and the wife staying home to care for the home and the children would soon become less the norm. This movement would go on to shape the changes within the nuclear family. Women deci...
Gender" refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women "Sex" refers to the biological and physiological characteristics that define men and women