Sociology ' Using Material from Item a Assess Sociological Explanations of Gender Inequality in Todays Society’

Women are more prone to live in low income circumstances than men, hence introducing the social problem of gender discrimination. Women have been discriminated in the workplace over time in that they are paid less than men in specific jobs and are not seen to be ‘suited’ to particular jobs, especially in the manufacturing and trade industries. Marxist feminist Margaret Benston believed that women were oppressed by capitalism in that they were treated almost as a back-up, or secondary option of cheap labour that enabled profits to be kept up. ‘In 1994, 6.41 million women were in low-paid jobs and on average women’s full-time gross weekly pay was 72 percent of that of men’(Kane, 2003:115).

Traditional gender roles (men performing instrumental tasks and women performing expressive tasks) are viewed as important not only for the individual but also for the economic and social order of society. Failure to maintain the traditional division of labor is believed to lead to destruction of family life as well as higher rates of crime, violence, and drug abuse. Human capital theorists claim that sex differences in promotion rates are due to sex differences in commitment, education, and experience; women are believed to have less to offer employers. Even if these differences exist, this position ignores the fact that women are in a system of inequality, where social expectations prevent them from having qualifications that are similar to men. The conflict perspective emphasizes men’s control over scarce resources. The gendered division of labor within families and in the workplace results from male control of and dominance over women and resources. Differentials between men and women may exist in terms of economic, political, physical, and/or interpersonal power. Men remain the head of household and control the property. Also, men gain power through their predominance in the most highly paid and prestigious occupations and the highest elected offices. Liberal/Equal Rights Feminists – seek equal access for females within the current social system; focus is on equality of opportunity (e.g., civil rights and occupational equality). Radical/Transformative Feminists –

In an article written by Denise Venable the opinion that women have made decisions not to seek equal pay for employment. This old theory stems from a woman’s place is in the home. However, women are demanding additional training and advancement in the workplace. As a result

According to Johansson et al (2005) “differences in the educational requirements for jobs have contributed considerably to gender earnings inequality.” Kara (2006) demonstrated that women get remunerated less with no formal schooling, however, the wage gap decreases among genders with higher education. Gregorio and Lee (2002) also found that higher educational attainment led to more equal income between men and women. Kara (2006) found that women with high school and college degrees are more likely to work than women with lower levels of education. A study done by Löfström (1989) found that returns for women to education and to work experience are far lower than men. According to Johansson et al (2005), in a decomposition analysis he found that the measured differences in jobs and qualifications between women and men can account only for between two-fifths and three-fifths of the gender wage

However, a woman’s class position is not always equal to that of her male partner as has been pointed out by feminists. Many women do not have a male partner so cannot be placed in a class position in this way. Also, some women earn more than their partners and therefore could be seen to be in a higher class position. Feminist researchers and theorists have sought to include women in studies of work, employment and the professions as they are an important social category in themselves.

Firstly, liberal feminists, such as Ann Oakley argue that gender role socialisation is responsible for

Women remain at an economic disadvantage compared to men due to the fact that some occupations still pay women less than their male counterparts. This unequal pay reinforces the thinking that it is okay for men to make more than women just because of their gender. This is an obstacle within the workplace which prevents a woman from advancing her career and allows for higher positions to continue consisting almost entirely of men. Present day in the labour market, “Canadian women earn 23% less than men regardless of their age, education or occupation” (Struman, 2015). Even though women have been quite successful in seeking employment and many possess a decent education, women continue to face a difference in pay because of their gender. In order to be seen as equals women need to be earning the same amount as their male coworkers because they possess the necessary skills needed to complete the job. Differences in pay should be based on an individual’s qualifications and job experience not their gender. The difference in pay prevents women from achieving success and reinforces the point that women remain at an economic disadvantage. Gender based pay is problematic and “[t]he Canadian gender pay gap is the fifth largest among the 34 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries… [and] the pay gap is particularly pronounced for single mothers, racialized women, First Nations women, and women with disabilities” (Struman, 2015). Gender

“A woman’s work experience is abbreviated if she needs to take maternity leave or take off from a job to care for a child, which she is more likely to do than her counterpart”; this is unfair as this should not determine pay (Farrell np). A woman’s choice to have and take care of a family should not be a penalty to her. Also, jobs that are overtaken by mostly women are paid less as a whole. “Not only are women more likely to be concentrated in fewer types of jobs, those jobs are more likely to be female-dominated - a fact that often leads to lower wages” (“Gender np). There are countless of unfair examples of women’s pay due to ridiculous penalties. Correction is needed, “Just as we still need to rebalance housework and childcare at home, we also

Over the past few decades, great strides have been made by women in the workplace. This increased number in women in the workplace does not mean equality however. Even with equal qualifications and achievements, women are still not given all the opportunities that men have. The chapter in the textbook, “Gender at Work”, shows us more of these inequalities in the workplace. Such inequalities cause gender segregation of jobs and can be linked with the pay inequality in the labor force. Even in jobs that are predominantly filled by women, men earn more than women. Women are often stereotyped as being family focused and not as able to travel, therefore they tend to get passed up for promotions (Garson p.353). This invisible barrier that keeps women from moving up the executive ladder is referred to as the “glass ceiling” (Baxter and Wright p. 346). Women also tend to do more domestic work, or unpaid labor and caregiving. This extra unpaid work is referred to as “the third shift” and is largely rested on the shoulders of women (Gersel p. 352). Consequently, this seems to be one of the biggest things holding women back from taking on jobs that are normally considered male

Considerable changes have taken place over the past two decades (WGEA, 2017c). Women have become more prominent within the workforce (WGEA, 2017c). Participation of women in the workplace has risen from 45% to 60% over the last 40 years (WGEA, 2017c, ABS, 2017a). Women’s education attainment has risen, showing a 28% increase since 1996 (ABS, 2017b; WGEA, 2017c). Despite this, earnings are not equal between male and female undergraduates (WGEA, 2017b). One suggestion is that women are choosing lower paid professions, contributing to an unequal distribution among part-time and full-time work (WGEA, 2017b).

Women and women’s rights have come a long way in terms of equality .Over the past century women have been granted the right to vote , to divorce , to own bank accounts , join the army , stand in election and the right to work , all of which should be natural rights (allwomenstalk, Alison Bryant). Despite theses substantial advances for equality , even in 2016 there is still inequality for women in the labor market. According to Catherine Hill , in the U.S. women working a full time job were paid 79 % of what men were paid. If this hasn't cast doubt on the realities of inequality in the labor market just think ‘Why does it exist?’. How does it affect women in general ,transgender women, women of color, mothers?, Furthermore ‘How can we fix

Throughout history, countless acts of gender inequality can be identified; the causes of these discriminating accounts can be traced back to different causes. The general morality of the inequity relies on a belief that men are superior to women; because of this idea, women have spent generations suffering under their counterparts. Also, a common expectation is that men tend to be more assertive and absolute because of their biological hormones or instinctive intellect. Another huge origin is sexual discrimination; even in the world today, many women are viewed by men as just sex objects rather than a real human being with

This paper goes to elaborate the factor that contributes to gender wage gap, its effects and the remedies that can be implemented to narrow and how Women are seen to be looking for jobs with less risk because it provides flexibility to manage both work and family, and by the notion that says women are the weaker sex but not risk takers. Then men on the other hand capitalized on this believing in themselves as the risk taker. This is because men take up jobs like engineering and surgeons while women take up jobs of nurturing and less demanding jobs but this has changed over the years in the society as women can practically do any job in this generation. (Fisanick, 2008).

As we are all birth equally throughout the world, there is still contingency that causes a barrier between human kinds. What barriers are we talking about that can’t be changed through our DNA? That is our gender. When each of us are born into the world, we are labeled as male or female due to our genetical DNA and different types of organs (WHO). Yet, society still isn’t as balance enough and there are still so much discrimination in gender in even today’s society.

for different social classes or statuses for various individuals within a group or society. It usually refers to people of distinct genders, ages