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Social Issue
A. History
i. Gender inequality in the workplace has existed from the time the workplace was created! Women have always been seen as a subordinate counter-part to men. In the early 1990's, women were portrayed as the perfect trophy, stay-at-home housewives, whom would take care of the house and kids. As a woman, she was meant to stay in the house to do tasks such as cook, clean, and take care of the kids and her husband. A perfect example for this image was played well by the actress in an early 90's show, Leave it to Beavers, as seen in the image on the left.
ii. Gender inequality was first recognized as far back as the 1800's, specifically 1825, when the first union for women only was formed: The United Tailoresses of New York. This would mark the beginning of many movements and achievements women would later accomplish.
i. Gender inequality in the workplace has existed from the time the workplace was created! Women have always been seen as a subordinate counter-part to men. In the early 1990's, women were portrayed as the perfect trophy, stay-at-home housewives, whom would take care of the house and kids. As a woman, she was meant to stay in the house to do tasks such as cook, clean, and take care of the kids and her husband. A perfect example for this image was played well by the actress in an early 90's show, Leave it to Beavers, as seen in the image on the left.
ii. Gender inequality was first recognized as far back as the 1800's, specifically 1825, when the first union for women only was formed: The United Tailoresses of New York. This would mark the beginning of many movements and achievements women would later accomplish.
Turning point
i. One of the biggest turning points for women in the workforce occurred during the time the ad on the right came out. Commonly known as "Rosie the Riveter," the ad stands as a symbol of feminanism and women's economic power. It came out during World War II, when most of the men in America were drafted to fight in the army, which left the home front for the women. Women would take full action in the workforce during this time, upholding jobs that before were generally known for men only. Thus, women would begin to take on the idea "[I] can do it!" and this ad would pave the way for the many advances for women in the workplace in later years.
ii. According to an essay, the transformation of men’s and women’s work roles
stands out among the many technological, economic, social and cultural changes in the last half of the twentieth century. In 1950, only a small minority of women 29% worked outside the home, but in 2000 nearly three quarters of women did. In 1950 women who were employed worked in a relative handful of nearly exclusively female occupations but by 2000 were spread
across nearly the entire spectrum of occupations. Finally, the average woman in 1950 earned
59¢ for every dollar earned by men while in 2000 she earned 73¢. (Gregory 2002) The scope and scale of this
change is indeed monumental, and the momentum built up around it has made it seem almost
inevitable, but with all the many advances, inequalities still remains in our society today.
ii. According to an essay, the transformation of men’s and women’s work roles
stands out among the many technological, economic, social and cultural changes in the last half of the twentieth century. In 1950, only a small minority of women 29% worked outside the home, but in 2000 nearly three quarters of women did. In 1950 women who were employed worked in a relative handful of nearly exclusively female occupations but by 2000 were spread
across nearly the entire spectrum of occupations. Finally, the average woman in 1950 earned
59¢ for every dollar earned by men while in 2000 she earned 73¢. (Gregory 2002) The scope and scale of this
change is indeed monumental, and the momentum built up around it has made it seem almost
inevitable, but with all the many advances, inequalities still remains in our society today.
The Affects
i. Ever since it became a rule, rather than an exception, for women to work outside of the home, the issue of discrimination in the workplace has been a serious dilemma. Women have consistently been paid less money, promoted less often, and have often been treated in a more demeaning and less professional manner than their male counter-parts. Despite having made significant gains toward workplace equality over the last few decades, progress has recently been slowed or stalled. Although it’s been over 40 years since the idea of female empowerment first inspired a generation of women to seek independent, professional careers, women are still facing the issue of sexism in the workplace.
II. Generally, women are the ones that are primarily affected by gender inequality in the workplace. For example, if one looks at the case of a single mother, if she experiences gender inequaliy as far as pay in the workplace, she is less likely to be able to make ends meet for her family, where as if it was a single father, he would be able to make ends meet more easily because of higher pay. This shows that the affect of gender inequality is more prone to women. In our society it would be easier for a man to be able to move up in an economic class, than it would for a woman.
iii. Furthermore, this is not only seen in just the U.S. society, but is displayed worldwide. When considering other cultures and countries, the work conditions for women are far worse than those of America. In some countries, such as Japan, women are still not able to hold high positions in the workplace because these positions considered to be only for men.
II. Generally, women are the ones that are primarily affected by gender inequality in the workplace. For example, if one looks at the case of a single mother, if she experiences gender inequaliy as far as pay in the workplace, she is less likely to be able to make ends meet for her family, where as if it was a single father, he would be able to make ends meet more easily because of higher pay. This shows that the affect of gender inequality is more prone to women. In our society it would be easier for a man to be able to move up in an economic class, than it would for a woman.
iii. Furthermore, this is not only seen in just the U.S. society, but is displayed worldwide. When considering other cultures and countries, the work conditions for women are far worse than those of America. In some countries, such as Japan, women are still not able to hold high positions in the workplace because these positions considered to be only for men.
References
Inglehart, R., & Norris, P. (2003). Rising tide: Gender equality and cultural change around the world. Cambridge
University Press.
Gregory, R. F. (2002). Women and workplace discrimination: Overcoming barriers to gender equality. Rutgers
University Press.
Unknown. (2009, March 3). new york teacher archive.
Robwrite. (n.d.). Gender equality in the workplace. Retrieved from
http://robwrite.hubpages.com/hub/Gender-Equality-in-the-Workplace.
University Press.
Gregory, R. F. (2002). Women and workplace discrimination: Overcoming barriers to gender equality. Rutgers
University Press.
Unknown. (2009, March 3). new york teacher archive.
Robwrite. (n.d.). Gender equality in the workplace. Retrieved from
http://robwrite.hubpages.com/hub/Gender-Equality-in-the-Workplace.