Gender Equality In Australia Essay

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The issue of gender equality, whilst improving, still remains a prevalent contemporary issue in Australian society. Gender equality refers to equal access to rights and opportunities regardless of an individual’s gender or sex. Many often think that gender inequalities affect women more than men, however in reality it affects both genders on a daily basis. Whilst legislations have been introduced such as equality of sex and discrimination legislation (Egmond, Baxter & Buchler, 2010), inequalities are still prevalent. These inequalities are closely tied with the gender stereotypes and gender role attitudes embedded in Australian society. A large aspect of gender inequality, which often gets overshadowed, is male equality especially in regards to the home and family environment.

Female inequality in the workplace has largely publicized in contemporary times and therefore it is no surprise that Australia is ranked second only to the Netherlands in the percentage of female …show more content…

Consequently, the role of a nurturing, caretaker and parent is frequently associated with the mother, as society tends to attribute her gender role as more fitting, whilst the male is often viewed as the ‘breadwinner’ of the family, providing more financial support rather then. Whilst many men still remain the primary economic source for a family, majority of men report having a strong commitment to the role as a father (Phares & Compas, 1992). Furthermore, evidence suggests that father’s contribute to important aspects of parenting and caretaking specifically in self-control and discipline (Phares & Compas, 1992). However, whilst many men may contain these feelings, there are still many culturally enforced barriers, which work against them contributing more to the domestic

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