Gender Inequality & Bias ASHLEY BAYNE 3/15/2019 What is Gender Inequality and Bias? Gender Inequality is a term used to describe the unfair/unequal treatment between men and omen. It is usually due to gender biases withheld in society. Gender bias is prejudice or preference of one gender over the other. People with a gender biased mindset, often use stereotypes to justify why they prefer one gender over the other. It has little to nothing to do with non-sex based characteristics. Though men can be subjected to gender bias, it is often seen affecting the lives of women. Though the want of having a 1950’s housewife has slimmed, many women still experience an unequal share of household chores and child-rearing. G E N D E R -|R O L E S Throughout history, women have been left home to do all the cleaning, cooking, and childcare while their husbands are a work. Even in modern times, with women making up nearly half of the workforce, some are still expected to carry out these duties. The lack of help from their husbands further instills these ideas into their kids and can cause a lack of appreciation for women, if these roles are still expected. The US seems to fall behind other western countries when it comes to female representation in government. Women in 2018 took up between 19% and 21% of seats in the US House of Representatives and Senate. It is suspected women won't reach equal representation for at least another hundred years. ╔ ╚ < Women in Power > ╗ ╝ One contributing factor for the low numbers is the lack of support women get when running for office. Women and girls are also less encouraged to go after a political career than their male counterparts. However, in recent elections, there were a surprising amount of women sworn into office, and thus inspiring a new generation of girls to also run. >Women in the Workforce < Outside of government office, women are experiencing inequality in their jobs. More so in male-dominated fields. In fact, employers are more likely to hire a less qualified male over a better-suited female. In their eyes, a man would do a better job. A large number of women will experience a phenomenon known as “the glass ceiling.” The glass ceiling is an invisible barrier that keeps women from ascending further into their careers. It’s no surprise that women often make less than men for the same job. Even women who are more qualified for the job, experience a shortage in their pay. In 2017, women made around 80 cents to a man’s dollar, which is a 20% gap in pay. It’s an even bigger gap for women of minority groups. It is suspected that women won’t reach wage parity until 2059. Women of color are expected to wait even longer. Around 100 years, to be exact. W A G E S ● A ● Tax on Women There's an issue more women are becoming aware of, and its called the pink tax. The pink tax is in reference to an extra charge female shoppers have to pay for products and services. Some of these products include razors and deodorant. Vehicle maintenance and dry-cleaning are some of the services that women, unknowingly, pay more for. All of these things are something both men and women use on a daily basis, yet females pay more. Thankfully women can opt for the “manly” versions of those products. However, women are being charged too much for some of the stuff only we use. One example is the tax on menstrual items such as pads and tampons. These items are taxed as a luxury as if they aren't a need but a want. Women need them to keep blood from depositing onto their clothes and seats. For a few women, they go through something horrible. Rape. It can cause extreme emotional, physical, and mental distress. Because the US has such a prevalent rapeculture, many women are made to feel like they are to blame for what happened to them. Victim Blame And Victim Shame Some excuses as to why a woman is raped include: • Her Clothes. • How flirtatious/enticing she was. • If she originally consented, but changed her mind. • Being intoxicated. When men are raped, they are not as scrutinized for what they were wearing and acting like. Rape is a horrible thing and should not be cast as the victim's fault. S T E T O Q U E A P L S I T Y Though the process could take a while, there are some things we can do to reach parity in our society. Some tactics include: • • • • • Talk to and encourage girls to venture into male-dominated careers. Encourage them to speak up for themselves. Pay them properly for their work. Stop victim blaming. Put women in power. To help bring out equality, several movements have been started. One of them being feminism. Feminism is a movement that is striving for proper equity and equality amongst men and women. The members of the movement include people of all ages, ethnicities, and genders. And though, they aren’t always depicted in the best light, they continue to push their message. One way they do so is through marches. A very notable march, is the Women’s March. For each march, thousands of people rally together demanding equal rights, equity, and funding for various women's health programs. One example being Planned Parenthood, which provides many women with affordable birth control. -F E M I N I S M -- Sources: • Alba, B. (2018, September 19). To achieve gender equality, we must first tackle our unconscious biases. Retrieved March 13, 2019, from https://theconversation.com/to-achieve-gender-equality-we-must-first-tackle-our-unconscious-biases-92848 • Brechenmacher, S. (2018, February 20). Tackling Women's Underrepresentation in U.S. Politics: Comparative Perspectives From Europe. Retrieved March 13, 2019, from https://carnegieendowment.org/2018/02/20/tackling-women-s-underrepresentation-in-u.s.-politicscomparative-perspectives-from-europe-pub-75315 • Buitenbos, D. (2018, February 12). Why gender inequality often starts at home. Retrieved March 13, 2019, from https://stories.plancanada.ca/why-gender-inequality-starts-at-home/ • Elliott, C. (n.d.). The Pink Tax- The Cost of Being a Female Consumer. Retrieved March 13, 2019, from https://www.listenmoneymatters.com/the-pink-tax/ • Leach, A. (2016, March 14). 12 steps to achieve gender equality in our lifetimes. Retrieved March 10, 2019, from https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/mar/14/gender-equalitywomen-girls-rights-education-empowerment-politics • I. (n.d.). Pay Equity & Discrimination. Retrieved March 10, 2019, from • S. (n.d.). RAPE CULTURE, VICTIM BLAMING, AND THE FACTS. Retrieved March 11, 2019, from http://www2.southernct.edu/sexual-misconduct/facts.html Williams, C. L. (2013, June 11). The Glass Escalator, Revisited: Gender Inequality in Neoliberal Times, SWS Feminist Lecturer. Retrieved March 9, 2019, from • https://iwpr.org/issue/employment-education-economic-change/pay-equity-discrimination/ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0891243213490232
