Gender InequalityGender Inequality

How were women seen?How were women seen?

Male propertyMale property Rape in marriage- dismissedRape in marriage- dismissed Woman’s place- in the kitchen, b/w the Woman’s place- in the kitchen, b/w the

sheetssheets Working women- irresponsible or Working women- irresponsible or

embarrassmentembarrassment Unwed mothers- stigmatised/shunnedUnwed mothers- stigmatised/shunned University- where to find a manUniversity- where to find a man

And now…And now…

Decide if and when to have childrenDecide if and when to have children Raise children on their own or with partnerRaise children on their own or with partner Suing employers for harassment/discriminationSuing employers for harassment/discrimination Exerting pressure on hidebound institutionsExerting pressure on hidebound institutions - embrace female realities or risk credibility- embrace female realities or risk credibility

The change from then and now is referred to as the:The change from then and now is referred to as the:

RealityReality

Women still have a long way to go before Women still have a long way to go before attaining, economic parity, social equality, attaining, economic parity, social equality, agenda setting powers and political power agenda setting powers and political power sharing. Progress – yes Equality –nosharing. Progress – yes Equality –no

Stereotypes still exist:Stereotypes still exist: women are perceived as passive, women are perceived as passive,

emotionally soft, and obsessed with emotionally soft, and obsessed with appearancesappearances

Men are perceived as assertive, Men are perceived as assertive, ambitious, competitive and goal orientedambitious, competitive and goal oriented

ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT GENDERASSUMPTIONS ABOUT GENDER(Characteristics according to Fiske)(Characteristics according to Fiske)

Masculine Masculine FeminineFeminine

activeactive passive passive

presence absencepresence absence

independentindependent dependent dependent

organizedorganized scattered scattered

rational emotionalrational emotional

logicallogical illogical illogical

intellectualintellectual intuitive/imaginativeintuitive/imaginative

Gender as a Social ProblemGender as a Social ProblemGender relations are unequal relations with Gender relations are unequal relations with

respect to: power, privilege, and property.respect to: power, privilege, and property.

Gender is a social problem when inequities Gender is a social problem when inequities continue to persist in a society that continue to persist in a society that espouses gender equality espouses gender equality

Gender is problematic because of the growing Gender is problematic because of the growing estrangement is not without consequenceestrangement is not without consequence

-When the scripting of masculinity and -When the scripting of masculinity and femininity into rigid roles and stereotypical femininity into rigid roles and stereotypical rules restrict personal choice, foster sexism rules restrict personal choice, foster sexism and create unequal outcomesand create unequal outcomes

(De) Constructing Gender(De) Constructing Gender•• Fleras argued that, due to the feminist movement and changes in Fleras argued that, due to the feminist movement and changes in

the workplace the interest in the politics that define male /female the workplace the interest in the politics that define male /female relations has been escalated in recent years. relations has been escalated in recent years.

Women in male dominated domains have drawn public attention.Women in male dominated domains have drawn public attention. Individuals express interest in meaning of womanhood/ manhood Individuals express interest in meaning of womanhood/ manhood

while sociologists argued that neither is biologically constructed; while sociologists argued that neither is biologically constructed; it is socially and culturally constructed.it is socially and culturally constructed.

Masculinity is based on the attributions of a typical male. While Masculinity is based on the attributions of a typical male. While femininity exemplifies the cultural characteristics that define the femininity exemplifies the cultural characteristics that define the

blueprint for female.blueprint for female.

A Gender SocietyA Gender Society

Gender culturally defines who and what we should be in society. It is a Gender culturally defines who and what we should be in society. It is a label that is assigned to us and this varies culturally. It has shaped our label that is assigned to us and this varies culturally. It has shaped our thoughts about how we see ourselves and our relationship with the thoughts about how we see ourselves and our relationship with the world.world.

Media images and sanctions have conditioned the minds of children and Media images and sanctions have conditioned the minds of children and adults with dominant ideals of masculinity and femininity likewise how adults with dominant ideals of masculinity and femininity likewise how they should act as man and a woman.they should act as man and a woman.

Gender determines pattern of entitlement and engagement of inequality, Gender determines pattern of entitlement and engagement of inequality, hierarchical distinctions and advantages.hierarchical distinctions and advantages.

Public perceptions of gender have been altered by 30 years of social Public perceptions of gender have been altered by 30 years of social upheaval. upheaval.

a)a) Women were no longer dismissed as inferior or submissive in Women were no longer dismissed as inferior or submissive in statusstatus

b)b) Roles are not nearly as rigidly scripted as beforeRoles are not nearly as rigidly scripted as before c)c) Rules defining masculinity and femininity are increasing Rules defining masculinity and femininity are increasing

contested contested d)d) Differences among women are accepted as empowering.Differences among women are accepted as empowering.

Double StandardDouble Standard

Men have to renegotiate their relationship with Men have to renegotiate their relationship with women on the basis of equality. women on the basis of equality.

Men are not permitted to show emotions; they will Men are not permitted to show emotions; they will be precluded from female- dominated professions.be precluded from female- dominated professions.

Discouraged from working with children and Discouraged from working with children and criticized by his male counter parts for being criticized by his male counter parts for being wimpy.wimpy.

Females are no longer seen as weak and Females are no longer seen as weak and vacillating rather seen as valuable team worker vacillating rather seen as valuable team worker within the workplace. This has created an identity within the workplace. This has created an identity crisis, because men have lost their spot in the crisis, because men have lost their spot in the lime-light and they have to find themselves and lime-light and they have to find themselves and what is expected of them.what is expected of them.

The Masculine MystiqueThe Masculine Mystique Focus is on social problems confronting women, with emphasis Focus is on social problems confronting women, with emphasis

on women and inequality, the devaluation of women’s on women and inequality, the devaluation of women’s experiences, violence against women, etc.experiences, violence against women, etc.

Not only are male contributions to gender equation excluded, but Not only are male contributions to gender equation excluded, but also ignored is how men are undergoing transformation in terms also ignored is how men are undergoing transformation in terms of status, roles, expectations, and responsibilities- in ways both of status, roles, expectations, and responsibilities- in ways both empowering and disempowering.empowering and disempowering.

The Masculine Mystique cont’d…The Masculine Mystique cont’d…What does it mean to be a man in today’s rapidly changing environment?What does it mean to be a man in today’s rapidly changing environment?

Masculine Mystique Cont’d…Masculine Mystique Cont’d…

Men are entering the new century in a more uncertain Men are entering the new century in a more uncertain position because of disempowerment at home and position because of disempowerment at home and the workplace as the workplace as

a)a) women have seized more power, women have seized more power,

b)b) children are asserting rights, children are asserting rights,

c)c) computers are taking their jobs, computers are taking their jobs,

d)d) their value to society is eroded by technological their value to society is eroded by technological advances, and advances, and

e)e) their command and control skills are becoming their command and control skills are becoming obsolete in a global economy that emphasizes obsolete in a global economy that emphasizes female skills.female skills.

Question: Why is it Question: Why is it that violence by that violence by women in women in domestic domestic relations is relations is treated less treated less harshly by the harshly by the legal system than legal system than male violence?male violence?

Employment StatusEmployment Status

46.7% of Canada’s labour force is comprised of 46.7% of Canada’s labour force is comprised of womenwomen

Nearly 58% of all adult women were in paid Nearly 58% of all adult women were in paid employment compared to only 24% in 1950employment compared to only 24% in 1950

Gendered division of labour restricts women from Gendered division of labour restricts women from higher paid “male” jobs. As a result women have a higher paid “male” jobs. As a result women have a lower status and lower paid jobslower status and lower paid jobs

Common trends in female jobs:Common trends in female jobs: Women are usually in occupations such as Women are usually in occupations such as

elementary teaching, nursing/health related jobs, elementary teaching, nursing/health related jobs, secretaries and office clerks, or retail sales/service secretaries and office clerks, or retail sales/service (including cashiers)(including cashiers)

Even though women have and continue to make Even though women have and continue to make advances in their careers they still spend more advances in their careers they still spend more time than men in childcare and houseworktime than men in childcare and housework

Income EarningsIncome Earnings

Women earn 61% of what men earnWomen earn 61% of what men earn Women in full time employment earn around 70 Women in full time employment earn around 70

cents for every dollar a man makescents for every dollar a man makes Overall the most common occupations held by Overall the most common occupations held by

women are lower payingwomen are lower paying Men are more likely to ask for a raise while Men are more likely to ask for a raise while

women tend to not ask for what they deservewomen tend to not ask for what they deserve

EducationEducation

Women are Women are outperforming men in outperforming men in math, writing and math, writing and reading in Ontario reading in Ontario primary schoolsprimary schools

Women make up 58% of Women make up 58% of university graduatesuniversity graduates

Faculties such as Faculties such as Computer Science and Computer Science and Engineering remain Engineering remain predominantly malepredominantly male

Women are Women are predominantly in Arts predominantly in Arts and Social Sciencesand Social Sciences

Political StatusPolitical Status Very little representation Very little representation

of women in politics:of women in politics: Out of 63 seats in Out of 63 seats in

Parliament- women Parliament- women Represent 20.6% of the Represent 20.6% of the totaltotal

None of the federal None of the federal political party leaders in political party leaders in B.C are femaleB.C are female

Even the few women Even the few women who make it into who make it into Parliament are delegated Parliament are delegated to the “soft” issues such to the “soft” issues such as welfare or cultureas welfare or culture

Domestic ViolenceDomestic Violence

90% of domestic 90% of domestic violence victims violence victims are womenare women

Criminal Criminal harassment by a harassment by a spouse increased spouse increased by 53% between by 53% between 1995-20011995-2001

Explaining Gendered Explaining Gendered InequalityInequality

Some may blame gender differences to be the cause Some may blame gender differences to be the cause of inequalityof inequality

Some say that the structure of inequalities tends to Some say that the structure of inequalities tends to accentuate differences among men and womenaccentuate differences among men and women

Men’s perceptions and women’s experiences differ in Men’s perceptions and women’s experiences differ in how each sees gender inequality. i.e. sexual how each sees gender inequality. i.e. sexual harassment (p.117)harassment (p.117)

Capitalism and patriarchy may partially explain Capitalism and patriarchy may partially explain gendered inequality. The structure of capitalism gendered inequality. The structure of capitalism inscribes women as a disposable and cheap workforce inscribes women as a disposable and cheap workforce and maintains that women should secure the and maintains that women should secure the domestic life for nurturing male labour.domestic life for nurturing male labour.

Patriarchy reinforces male dominance. Masculinity is Patriarchy reinforces male dominance. Masculinity is valued more over femininity and males have valued more over femininity and males have preferential access to the social, political, economic preferential access to the social, political, economic and cultural opportunities.and cultural opportunities.

QuestionsQuestions

What does it mean to What does it mean to be masculine or be masculine or feminine?feminine?

How and why has the How and why has the concept of concept of masculinity masculinity changed?changed?

What is meant by the What is meant by the expression that expression that gender and gender gender and gender relations are socially relations are socially constructed?constructed?

By: Curlena, Sheila, Jen, and MagdaBy: Curlena, Sheila, Jen, and Magda