Gender and Role Inequality, Slides of Psychology

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Gender Inequality

In & Around the World

LA 106

Sex & Gender

Dr. Ros Burton-Robertson

Lecture Outline

Sexual Differentiation

Perspectives on Gender Inequality

Gender as Social Construction and Social

Structure

Differences in Life Chances by Sex

Gender and Power

The Sociology of Sexuality

Gender Roles Across Cultures

In virtually all cultures:

Women are expected to focus on child-raising.

Men tend to have more power.

Male children are valued over female children.

What is Gender

Inequality?

“Gender inequality refers to unequal

treatment or perceptions of individuals

based on their gender. It arises from

differences in socially

constructed gender roles as well as

biologically through chromosomes, brain

structure, and hormonal differences.

Gender inequality stems from

distinctions,

whether empirically grounded or socially

constructed. ” (Wikipedia, 2014).

Gender inequality is still a huge issue today, where males are considered superior to females (Mooney et al 2013). Women had to fight to vote, for equal pay, and to have male dominant jobs, but still have lower incomes, fewer prestigious jobs, usually female orientated college degrees, and are more likely to live in poverty than men (Mooney et al, 2013).

Inequality in the Home According to the article “Cooking up Housewives”, in today’s society, the media has taken over labeling behaviors; the media didn’t invent them, but are still reinforcing them. Even though the photograph on the right is a vintage advertisement, the gender roles shown still carry on today. Most ads usually show women cooking or cleaning the house or bathrooms, etc. The article continues to say that the way women are portrayed in the media have now become the norms, “culturally defined rules of conduct, of our society”. We can also mention the “second shift” where women work all day, usually with less pay than their fellow male co-worker and are expected to do everything at home. Still clean the house, make the meals, do all the laundry, etc. Domestic abuse is another issue in the home, many women flee their homes due to this and end up living in poverty, another consequence of inequality (Mooney et al, 2013).

Why is there Gender Inequality in the Workplace? TAKING CARE OF FAMILY: Wage inequality in Canada is due to women losing seniority and missing out on wage increases from maternity leave, or working less hours taking care of their families (Gender Wage Gap, 2014). STEREOTYPES: More women are hired in the healthcare field (nurses) as they are considered more nurturing then men, or working in childcare, office work (Mooney et all 2013). There is also less unionization, so less protection (Gender Wage Gap, 2014). EDUCATION: In the past women had lower levels of education so were unable to get better jobs, this is changing and more women now are getting post-secondary education (Gender Wage Gap, 2014). GLASS CEILING: The invisible barrier that keeps minorities and women from rising upwards on the corporate ladder, regardless of their qualifications or achievements (Mooney et al, 2013). SEXUAL HARASSMENT: Many women are sexually harassed and belittled at work, and some too afraid to come forward in case it jeopardizes their job. DISCRIMINATION: Some girls/women are only hired if they look a certain way.

Inequality in School Schools are another place gender inequality is evident, from the books students read, the curriculum and how teachers may interact with students (Mooney et al, 2013). This differs from country to country. In some countries girls have no rights are not allowed to go to school. Others have to work or are married young, or live in a rural community where they are unable to get to a school. Poverty usually playing a huge part in most areas not enabling these girls to get an education. A friend of mine runs a volunteer outreach program, A Broader View, to help students (especially girls) get the education they need in Honduras. Volunteers come and teach these kids, and the children are provided a hot meal, for most the only meal they will get that day. Some of these little girls will walk up to 2 hours back and forth every day in the dangerous jungle to get an education and a meal! It’s pretty amazing work they do for these kids, giving them a future they wouldn’t be able to get otherwise. They also help with healthcare too. Many churches and organizations also build schools in many countries and offer education to impoverished children and women.

NEGATIVE VIEWS OF WOMEN VIA INTERNET “women cannot be trusted” “women shouldn’t vote” “women should stay in the kitchen.” A division of the United Nations that deals with gender equality has revealed a new campaign that used Google's search bar to show shocking negative attitudes toward women. The campaign shows 4 pictures of women with the search results blocking their mouths, giving a powerful statement about gender inequality. They found searches were made for “women should”," "women shouldn't," "women cannot" and "women need to." The eye- opening results include "women shouldn't have rights" and "women need to be put in their place.“ (Taylor, V., 2013).

GENDER INEQUALITY IN

MOVIES

Girls have less roles in Television than boys. Starting from a young age girls may feel less valuable and insecure due to this. Women are usually also portrayed a certain way, with an idealized physique, giving girls insecurity at a very young age.

A Psychology Today survey

showed of 3,452 women surveyed, 23% said that movie or television celebrities influenced their body image when they were young, and 22% were influenced by fashion magazine models.

Dove’s Real Beauty Campaign for girls is a great example of loving yourself for who you are. Other companies are following suit as well. More needs to be done in this department with the media, ensuring our children see all girls as beautiful, mind and body and spirit. We can see here how girls should be valued, and at a young age should be taught there are no reasons for girls to feel like they are inferior or have to try to be someone else or fit a certain standard.

Please take a minute to watch the video below about Gendercide, what some call, “The Modern Day Holocaust” :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltVsGdmKsT

Did you know

Canada has ZERO

pre-born human

rights?

Gendercide is happening in our own country. Many parents choose to abort their babies if female in Canada. Canada (along with China and North Korea) are the only countries that have zero pre-born human rights, and it is legal to abort up till 9 months (weneedalaw.ca).

Solutions to Gendercide would be Up to Date Laws like other countries for equality. Although women’s rights are improving in other areas, there are no women’s rights in the womb in Canada. Much awareness and education needs to be done on this subject, especially in schools. If our country currently has no laws or much awareness about gendercide abortions, will we eventually turn out to be like India or China?