An expository article published to YouGov entitled, "Lasting gender stereotypes in the workplace," written by Kate Palmer, an author for YouGov, Life, and Omnibous Research, expresses that although gender equality has made great strides, there are still gender related stereotypes in the work place that continue to remain.
"The male dominated and top-down office of the 1950's has been replaced with a much greater degree of equality and meritocracy," says Palmer. Over the past five decades gender in the US labor force has changed tremendously for the better. With women rising to the same level of pay as men they are able to become independent and focus on their careers.
According to Palmer, "The transformation has also profoundly affected men." On one hand, men and women are now interacting on an equal professional level, as well as outside the workplace. On the other hand, more men are finding themselves in roles that had once been considered strictly work for women.
Palmer says that although "the overwhelming majority of Americans, and the law, demands equality of opportunity for both sexes," do we really believe that both genders are equally able to perform any job? Most Americans still believe that there are very specific jobs that are gender distinct. Most people, especially men, would disagree that women are well suited to be a firefighter; likewise, most people, mainly women, would feel that a man would not be as well suited to be a receptionist.
These gender stereotypes are worldwide and in many other countries they are far more pronounced than they are in the United States. Equal rights between men and women in the work place have evolved greatly, but there are clearly gender stereotypes that still need to be done away with.
In conclusion, research shows that gender stereotypes continue to exist and vary according to age, education, and even political party.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Gender Roles in the American Working Class CC#3.1
In an expository article published to The Economist entitled, "When women dare to outearn men," by C.O. Berlin, a writer for The Economist, references several published articles discussing the wage of the husband and it's impact on women's careers. The issue of wage inequality is one of the most constraining for women's careers.
According to Berlin, "In a country like America, in which men on average earn more than women, it follows almost naturally that the wife often earns less." Our society has been based on the traditional belief that the man or husband in a marriage should have the responsibility of providing for himself and/or his family. Although women's rights for equality have been recognized, their wages in the work place are generally still lower than men.
Furthermore, Berlin states, "Women with the potential to earn more than their husbands quit their job altogether more often than otherwise similar women in comparable families." In some cases if the husband earns less than his wife, he might be expected to do more at home. Our society has trained men to believe that the wife's place is in the home and that they should not have as much responsibility as the husband in the workplace; thus, if a woman has a higher position at work than her husband, she may quit her job to pacify him.
Researchers, Marianne Bertrand, Emir Kamenica, Jessica Pan state, "As long as the woman earns less, her income does not cause trouble in the marriage." When a woman earns more than her male partner or husband troubles begin to occur within the relationship. The simple fact of a woman earning more than her spouse has an impact on the divorce rate in our country.
Berlin states, "Economists wonder why people with rational expectations enter such a marriage at all." Traditional beliefs about the wages of men and women are slowly changing, and as a result so is the tradition of getting married at a young age. Young men and women in our country are now focusing much more on their careers and wages.
In conclusion, we know that norms and traditions are stubborn. Changing tradition takes time and possibly the revision of certain policies. Society cannot afford to waste the potential that women offer to our economy. We must play an active part in supporting policies in the work place that equalize the gender gap.
According to Berlin, "In a country like America, in which men on average earn more than women, it follows almost naturally that the wife often earns less." Our society has been based on the traditional belief that the man or husband in a marriage should have the responsibility of providing for himself and/or his family. Although women's rights for equality have been recognized, their wages in the work place are generally still lower than men.
Furthermore, Berlin states, "Women with the potential to earn more than their husbands quit their job altogether more often than otherwise similar women in comparable families." In some cases if the husband earns less than his wife, he might be expected to do more at home. Our society has trained men to believe that the wife's place is in the home and that they should not have as much responsibility as the husband in the workplace; thus, if a woman has a higher position at work than her husband, she may quit her job to pacify him.
Researchers, Marianne Bertrand, Emir Kamenica, Jessica Pan state, "As long as the woman earns less, her income does not cause trouble in the marriage." When a woman earns more than her male partner or husband troubles begin to occur within the relationship. The simple fact of a woman earning more than her spouse has an impact on the divorce rate in our country.
Berlin states, "Economists wonder why people with rational expectations enter such a marriage at all." Traditional beliefs about the wages of men and women are slowly changing, and as a result so is the tradition of getting married at a young age. Young men and women in our country are now focusing much more on their careers and wages.
In conclusion, we know that norms and traditions are stubborn. Changing tradition takes time and possibly the revision of certain policies. Society cannot afford to waste the potential that women offer to our economy. We must play an active part in supporting policies in the work place that equalize the gender gap.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)