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Gender Inequality In The United States

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Living in the 21st century, society may believe that we live in a world of gender equality. A belief that is in fact idealistic. Gender inequality stems from deep rooted cultural ideologies. The enculturation process plays a role in learning gendered norms. Gender roles ascribed to men and women have affect in our society. Social inequalities affect many women in different walks of life. It can be seen in the type of work women obtain and which accounts for the gender wage gap. Gender inequality can also be seen at the educational level. Even though there is gender inequality all around us we we can all strive for gender equality by diminishing the causes of gender inequality. Lets take a step back and analyze what gender inequality truly …show more content…
Traditional gender roles in the U.S between 1860-1950s were that the breadwinner of a family was given to the males and the housewives to the females (Dr. Castorena, “Gender” lecture, April 12, 2018). “Related to gender roles are gender stereotypes which are oversimplified, but strongly held ideas about characteristics of males and females” (Kottak and Kozaitis 2012, 145). A common gender stereotype is that women are expected to have proper behavior, restrained, and meek (Kottak and Kozaitis, 2012, 146). If a woman speaks up for herself, then she is considered aggressive. This places a woman in a subordinate position. Another common gendered stereotype is the belief that a woman’s work is at home. That if they have any type of work that their children will be greatly disadvantaged (Evans 2017, 32). Another such stereotype common in the nineteenth and twentieth century a term often used was ‘pin money’ implying that the earnings of women were only to pay for what were defined as the frivolous wants of women (Evans 2017, 30). Gender role as well as gender stereotypes play a key role in gender …show more content…
Women tend to have a double workload. Meaning that married women are employed and are primarily responsible for housework and child care (Dr. Castorena, “Gender” lecture, April 12, 2018). Women narrow their job choice and tend to look for employment that can be fitted around her traditional, domestic responsibilities. Being a parent affects a women finding work more than it affects men. Women who join the workforce tend to find only part-time work. If a woman does in fact venture into the work force often times they tend to experience horizontal segregation as well as vertical segregation. In horizontal segregation, women and men work in different jobs. Segregating a job because it is a man’s job leads to gender inequality. An example of horizontal segregation was during World War II, when women entered male dominated industries. Women were still given jobs that differed from the jobs men obtained (Arber and Nigel, 1992). In vertical segregation men and women occupy different specializations within the same occupation (Dr. Castorena, “Gender” lecture, April 12, 2018). This type of segregation is prevalent in the professional field. Women are more likely to be looked over for management positions. Gender inequality in the workplace causes women to be constrained in the ability to obtain power, privilege, and

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