This essay describes three key ways in which an individuals gender leads to inequality in society. This essay was awarded full marks and highlights ways in which different avenues in social life translates to injustice in society.
Education
Firstly, one way in which gender inequality is prevalent in today’s society is
through the education system; as girls are known to outperform boys at GCSE and A
level. Therefore, it can be identified that the schooling system is put in place to
act as a beneficial aid to girls and accommodate to their learning styles and
techniques- whilst disregarding boys wants and needs. However, it can be argued
that girls succeed over boys in school because they are more susceptible to plan
ahead, set academic goals and put effort into achieving them. Meaning the education
system isn’t always to blame, when it comes to the differences in educational
attainment between both genders. Sociologist Francis identified the idea that boys
feel as though school is a ‘girls world’, so don’t want to associate themselves
with it. This can closely be linked to Paul Willis’s idea that boys reject school
as a form of masculinity; this may correlate with the lack of male role model
teachers in schools and so this reinforces the overrepresentation of women in
education. Resulting in an increase in anti school subcultures built by boys;
meaning boys may turn to deviant, criminal acts of violence in retaliation of the
education system. Meaning there is a heightened likelihood of boy exclusion rates
increasing and Ultimately resulting in a fall in academic achievements as well as
an increase in boys leaving school early with little qualifications. Therefore, due
to the built stereotype of boys Francis’s argued that boys are less likely to be
positively labelled in school and so teachers lack aspirations in the long term for
boys in school. Therefore, this closely links with Jackson’s idea of ‘laddism and
laddetism’ in schools as this is why teachers are more surprised and taken aback
when girls misbehave in school due to their learnt gender role to be respectful and
‘lady like’.
Health sector
A second way in which gender inequality is reinforced in today’s society is through
the health sector. This is because statistics have highlighted that men are much
more vulnerable and susceptible to mental health problems due to the ingrained idea
that men should ‘act like a man’ and follow the socialised gender stereotypes that
is expected of them. ONS found that men are 75% more likely to commit suicide than
women due to feeling embarrassed and overwhelmed due to bottling up their feelings
for such an elongated period of time. This can be identified in an NPA statement,
as men are much less likely to take advantage of primary care services. This can be
due to numerous factors such as work commitments or men may simply uphold a
negative perception of mental health problems and feel ashamed. This is because men
have internalised their learnt gender roles at a young age due to men being
portrayed to be strong, brave characters; leading to them in adulthood hiding their
emotions as it’s what they’re used to. This idea was highlighted by Oakley as she
claimed that parents channel this through verbal appellation such as ‘brave boy’.
Workplace and financial income
A final way in which gender inequality can be identified in today’s society, is
through the workplace and the financial gaps in pay. Research by the ONS has found
that the gender pay gap for full time work in the uk is 13%, however government
data suggests that the gender pay gap for all workers is closer to 20%. Further
highlighting the enforced gender inequality in society despite doing the same
hourly shifts and work that is expected of them- as showcased by the Human Rights
Commission (2015) as female graduates often earn £8000 per year less than males.
Following from this, it has been highlighted through further research that 80% of
the lowest paid workers are carried out by female employees. Suggesting that women
are typically offered work that consists of a shortage of skills and lacks academic
knowledge. Reinforcing the misconceptions society upholds of women and the lack of
opportunities women are provided with when it comes to their employability. This
may be because women are seen to be more vulnerable in society due to their ‘triple
shift’ and responsibilities of upholding the expressive role in the home .
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