Critical Essay
Gender Inequalities at the Workplace
‘ Gender inequality in the workplace refers to the income disparity between the wages of men and women around the world. This term primarily describes discrimination against women.’
(Alexander Newman)
In this era of modernization with the advancement of technology, there are some countries which are still in the stage of developing country trying to improve the status by offering more jobs to the society like Malaysia, India and Korea. As we know, a country needs the excellent people who can work and sacrifice for the country to improve the economics and lifestyle. But, there is some Asian culture which seriously appears in Malaysia. Generally in the corporate sectors, our government have found out that the women are still being left out decision-making due to relunctance and stereotyping of gender roles. Let’s see the phenomenon of gender inequalities. For example, in Japan, many women move into part-time work upon having children. In United States of America, women held only 16% of board seats of large companies. A study shows that women in senior management positions were three times more likely to lose other jobs than men in similar positions. Let’s move on to see the occurrence of gender inequality in our country, Malaysia. Recently, the minister Datuk Seri Sharizat A.J. stated that the women are still being left out of decision-making due to the gender inequality.Nowadays, gender inequality is being practiced widely in corporate sectors. So, what do you know actually about gender inequality? Gender Inequalities refers to the obvious or ...
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... is a impetus in changing society perception and also company policies to favour both sexes.Male and female can work together for a better performance to create a gender equality society. Let us start together to create a gender equality society.
Fight for gender equality is not a fight against men. It is a fight against traditions that have chained them – a fight against attitudes that are ingrained in the society – it is a fight against system – a fight against proverbial laxshman Rekha which is different for men and different for women. The society must rise to the occasion. It must recognize & accept fact that men and women are equal partners in life. They are individual who have their own identity.
(Dr. Justice A.S. Anand)
Although society claims that we are in the age where there is gender equality, it is clear that women are still not of equal standing than men. In our society, women are of lower status than men. Such as in the workplace, a male employee’s project proposal is favored over a female employee’s proposal because a male superior believes that women cannot construct ideas as well as male employees. This is a result of how our culture has influence our view that women are less superior than men. Our male dominant culture taught us that women are not as capable as men are and that between the two genders, the man is the superior.
In this regards, Tannen suggests that equality platform between men and women is only achievable only if women begins learning “male style of communication, including giving direct orders”. It is through learning male’s ways of communication that women can win social respect in this business world and gain equal measure of advancement in various career portfolios.
“In particular, not only are rates of IPV expected to be higher in a capitalist economy than a socialist one, but rates of IPV, are also expected to be higher during periods of economic downturn and recession than during periods of relative prosperity” (Hattery and Smith 211). Relationships that undergo financial hardships through economic slumps are likely to create problems because doubts are raised towards the ability of the man to provide for his relationship, which trigger outbursts because men see that as an attack on their manhood. But through recessions and lean employment periods, women see the importance in which there are advantages in having an additional income to supplement their living conditions. “Thus, marriage—or long-term
Gender discrimination in the workplace is something that both men and women experience, women more than men. For instance, the current gender pat gap is 21 percent. This means that women are currently making 21 percent less than what their male counterparts are making. It has decreased over the years, but it is still a significant gap. In the workplace, women do not only experience discrimination in pay, but also in opportunities. An article states that, women are deemed less communal than men and that makes them less suited for certain careers (Miner, et. al, 2014). This thought alone puts women at a disadvantage when they are entering the labor force.
This is how sex segregation starts in the work place. The definition for gender segregation (in employment) this term is referred to the unequal distribution of men and women in the occupational structure, sometimes also (and more accurately) called ‘occupational segregation by sex’. There are two forms: ‘vertical segregation’ describes the clustering of men at the top of occupational hierarchies and of women at the bottom; ‘horizontal segregation’ describes the facts that at the same occupational level men and women have different job tasks (Gender Segregation in Employment). Having different job task is how the workplaces try to explain the differences in the pay. Having the same title in occupation but different tasks is out of the woman’s control but is no reason why there should be a wage gap. For example, in the article of Gender & Society, the women in the small firm were expected to put in the same long hours as their male colleagues and to put their work first, before family responsibilities (Gender & Society). This is a way to control females but even though they are expected to do the same as men the pay isn’t the same. Once again this is one form that men in the workplace feel more powerful then women but the truth is that yes they are giving women the same responsibilities and still are seen and treated as less powerful. Masculine-stereotyped patterns of on-the-job behavior in
The issue of gender inequality will never truly be solved in the United States. This arises from differences in socially constructed gender roles as well as biologically through hormonal differences, chromosomes, and brain structures. Gender inequality is defined as unequal treatment or perceptions of individuals based on gender. One of the reasons for gender inequality is income disparities. Another reason is because of the positions in the workplace. Thirdly, the reason is because of beliefs that one another has. For these reasons is why these situations should be examined to get to the root of the problem.
In this paper I have shown how women differ from men. They differ in everything from sports and education to their home life, women are unequal. Steps need to be taken provide equality for the whole nation. Maybe not to long after our century mark, everyone in this country, male and female, will have the same opportunities and chances for advancement in every aspect.
Women had suffered unfair pay in the workforce for years. Statistics have shown that men still earn more than women who have the same degree, education, and qualifications. Women are the main focus for the uneven and unequal share of low-wages in the United States. However, women have additional responsibilities from men that keep them out of the workforce longer which in return leads to discrimination. This research will introduce problems, solutions, and prove that there are alternatives for women.
We begin to realize that even though we are all different, when we combine our strengths, this can only make us stronger. Gender equality allows for everyone to work together. If men don’t have to control, women won’t have to be controlled. Both men and women should feel strong and united when working
Gender Inequality at a Workplace Historically, males and females normally assume different kinds of jobs with varying wages in the workplace. These apparent disparities are widely recognized and experienced across the globe, and the most general justification for these differences is that they are the direct outcomes of discrimination or traditional gender beliefs—that women are the caregivers and men are the earners. However, at the turn of the new century, women have revolutionized their roles in the labor market. Specifically in industrialized societies, the social and economic position of women has shifted. Despite the improving participation of women in the labor force and their ameliorating proficiency and qualifications, the labor force is still not so favorable to women.
Gender inequality is “the unfair treatment of an applicant or employee because of the person’s sex”. Gender inequality or gender discrimination is illegal. Gender inequality did not only start in the workplace. It began before that. In history women were always expected to be the ones at home taking care of children, while the men were the breadwinners of the family.
The definition that I chose for gender inequality becomes evident through hierarchical gender relations, with women being regarded to as inferior or less valuable solely based off of their sex. Gender hierarchy manifests through family relationships, the value placed on women’s work, and the power to make decisions within society. Such hierarchy is normally socially accepted by both of the genders but later questioned within its cultural context. In contrast, gender equality, is expressed in attitudes, beliefs, behaviors and policies that reflect an equal valuing and give equal opportunities for both genders. While the word discrimination is defined as "any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex...in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field”, the lack of discrimination in the word equality can be seen as an equal status between genders.
Gender inequality is present in all aspects of human society, from culture, politics, and economic stand point to personal relationships. Gender inequality can be viewed as a major problem especially within the business world (Corporation, 2016). In the past, men are seen as leaders in all aspects. For example, men could work without any criticisms, they could participate in political issues and were given higher education. Women on the other hand, were given no political participation, criticized for working outside the household as they were responsible for chores such as takes care of their children, cooking or cleaning and given limited education compared to men. Although there are claims rights equality of women in 21st century and much has been written about it in the field of business (Player, 2013), but there is still a gap between male and female. This essay aims to explore the impact of gender inequality in business and will analyze the details in terms of the men are given high pay and specific jobs over women.
This becomes a major problem when it comes to occupation. Theres is a phenomenon around the world known as occupational isolation, which is the segregation of jobs due to gender. Often, there are occupation which are target the male gender and others the female gender. Female are not considered for male jobs, such as prosecutors or front-line police officer. Women compete for jobs that pay less than their male counterparts. The perception is that a woman’s best occupation is being a housewife, and there is a generalization that her attitude at home will transfer to her work place. This is why women are being paid lower rates while men fight over high income jobs. When such segregation maintains itself, it leads to women becoming less progressive, while male continue to develop and acquire new skills, which leads to higher social life status and position. A consensus has been created by society and globalization policies in most countries where a woman’s work has been devalued, which removes women from the contention of new job’s available. It is also well known the the female wage and development projects do not receive the same fund compared to women, which leaves women in the
... the discrimination towards women. However, the misunderstanding and the stereotype towards specific industries should be improved. Kingsley emphasizes men will continue to dominate or lead in certain areas based on their personal strength and taste, just as women will head in other areas. Changes in workplaces and requirement of workers will continuous , and these changes will bring different impacts to both sexes. Achieve gender equality is important to construct good relationship and respect, and then create a harmonious society. Without discrimination or unfair treatments, people can discover and fully utilize their own potential and competitive advantage. Better education system and training programs are need to change the traditional views of the public. Also, government should make better laws and work harder to make the workplace a discrimination free place.