Gender and Inequality
Gender inequality
Gender inequality implies the manner in which gender categories of men and women are differently positioned in relation to the manner in which they access the various available social services such as employment and education, political representation, income among others. Gender inequality like any other social inequality is brought by various factors (Lardner, et al, 2006).
The level of gender inequality
According to a report available from United States Census of Bureau (2000), it indicates that women have nearly attained equality when it comes to education. Thus, the report indicates that in 1999, the percentage of women and men who completed high school education was same. Those who graduated from the university that year were 23.7 percent for women and 27.5 percent for men (US Census Bureau, 2000). Though this report indicates women a little below men regarding the percentage that graduated form the university, the figures show a considerable improvement in the last 30 to 40 years.
In the past, for example looking at 1970, the percentage of women who successfully completed a university education was only 8.2 percent in comparison to men who stood at 14.2 percent. As at 1980, the number of women increased to reach 13.6 percent, but the number of men as well increased to reach 20.9 percent. This tendency evidently indicates that education level of women is catching up with that of men. Indeed, latest studies have indicated that female percentage competing university education has risen to be higher than men.
Even though educational data do indicate that there is an increase in gender equality among men and women, this has not been transformed to real world outcome. For instance, records indicate that, in 2000, a female holding a diploma certificate was earning 21, 963, while a male with same qualification were earning 30, 868. Those females holding a university degree were earning 35, 408 whereas their male counterparts were earning 49,982 (US Census Bureau, 2000).
More women are likely to be poor compared to men. Available data indicates that 29 of single mother households live under poverty line, but only 12 of single male households live under the poverty line (US Census Bureau, 2000). As Zweig (2004) notes, this data can be due to a number of reasons, however, the major reason is that women today are still mainly employed in conventional female occupation like administrative support jobs and also service jobs.
Income disparity as a reason to gender inequality
Income plays an important role in creating equality, however, the fact that the income females earn has remained significantly lower in comparison to that of men, this also has contributed to existing gender inequality. This view is supported by a number of sociologists such as (Rhonda, 1998). Yet again, there those who view that gender inequality continue to exist because of the type of occupation preferred by women. As noted by Rhonda (1998) women are likely to take into account other factors when choosing a job and consider salary amount as the last factor.
Traditional gender roles that have continued to be practiced by some communities coupled by male stereotypes could as well contribute to gender inequality. For example Zweig (2004) asserts that gender inequality remains high among women from African American and Hispanic backgrounds as compared to white background, even in cases where these women have same education standards.
Making comparisons
The best way to assess gender inequality existing in the United States is by comparing it with other countries. A study carried out by the World Bank Group to compare workforce data among four countries namely, the US, Sweden, Mexico and the UK, established that the data was nearly similar in three countries, the UK, US, and Sweden. Accordingly, Sweden topped with female employment rate of 47 followed by the US with 46 and then the UK at 35 (Smeeding, 2005).
Perhaps one of the most telling statistics used to gauge the status of women in any society is the percent of representation they have in the government. There are some surprising facts revealed from this category. For instance, in 2004 the United States had only 14 percent of its elected legislative positions held by women.
Maybe, the best reflective indictor of women status within a given society is the proportion their hold in their government. In this category, remarkable findings were established. For example in 2004, merely 14 of elective legislative seats were occupied by women in the US. In UK, this was a little higher as it stood at 18 (Smeeding, 2005). However, in Mexico, the country had 23 of women holding elective positions (Smeeding, 2005). Only Sweden possess a higher number of women holding elective positions, as it has 45 of women in such positions (Smeeding, 2005). With regard that women comprise more than 50 of the total population in these countries, the absence of equal political representation of women is somehow alarming (Smeeding, 2005).
After analyzing the above statistics, it clear that there is no specific answer to fully explain gender inequality existing throughout many countries around the world. A good reason as to why Sweden has 45 of women in its elective legislature positions could be possibly because traditionally Sweden has been viewed to be highly socially advance compared to other three countries (US, UK and Mexico) (Smeeding, 2005). However, this reasoning fails to pass through analysis, owing to the fact that the workforce percentage and earnings of Swedish women and American women are nearly same.
Similarly, though Mexico has a high number of women in elective legislative positions, the country has a low proportion of employed women (Smeeding, 2005). This maybe could be due to the low gross national product of Mexico or due to the family system where women stays home as mothers is more ingrained in Mexico compared to highly developed countries like the United States.
Critical reflection
From our study and the past literature examine, it can be stated that gender inequality still exists. However, what is required at the present moment are further studies aimed at establishing on how females can do away with culturally established patterns particularly when it comes to employment. Studies have to be carried out on ways of encouraging girls to go for more modern jobs instead of their traditional jobs that pay less and offer limited career advancement. Certainly, in the United States, the percentage of female and male graduating form universities with bachelor degree is same if not better for women as at now, yet as seen there is still gender inequality in income as well as elective legislative positions. Thus, another area that needs further studies is how to improve representation of women in elective legislative positions. The two issues are crucial in reducing gender inequality better modern jobs for females and more representation in elective legislative positions. This is true in any society that needs to address this issue, be it America or Mexico.
Conclusion
Certainly, there are a numbers of factors ranging from economical, social and historical that continues to perpetuate gender inequality in America as well as in other countries of the world. Historically, men have been established themselves as the leading gender for many years. Thus, the undeniable truth regarding gender inequality allover the world is that, there is a lot to be done to bring equality. Any attempts to create equality among genders can not be successful without address income, which is related to education, and elective representation which is related to women empowerment. Though the advancement in gender equality experienced in the last century remains to be remarkable, particularly in education, employment, and elective representation and general basic rights of women, there are still gaps in gender inequality, particularly in areas that include income and political representation Lardner, et al (2006). Thus, real gender equality is yet to be achieved.
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