University Essay: Gender Roles and Discrimination in the Workplace

This essay explores the social construction of gender and its impact on creating discriminatory practices, particularly in the workplace. It highlights how gender roles, often rooted in patriarchal and heteronormative societal structures, lead to gender stratification and discrimination. The essay references statistics and studies that reveal the prevalence of gender discrimination, including unequal pay, lack of support, and limited promotion opportunities for women. It also mentions the various laws enacted to combat gender discrimination and promote equal opportunity. The essay concludes by emphasizing the ongoing need to address gender inequality in the workplace despite some progress made over time. Desklib provides access to similar essays and study tools for students.

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University
Assignment #7: Gender and Gender Discrimination in Workplace
Student Name:
Student ID:

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Table of Contents
Gender and Gender Roles 3
Gender Discrimination 3
Gender Stratification in Workplace 4
Works Cited 6

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Gender and Gender Roles
As opposed to common understanding the term ‘gender’ is used to signify the social function of
sex. It refers to the social construction of the sexed identities. Feminism and queer theory sees
gender as a cultural phenomenon rather than a biological one. Therefore, gender is not an
inherent aspect of the body (Lindsey 15). It is established through assigning different social roles
and functions to males and females. Gender roles have been used to marginalize women and
deprive them of certain rights and privileges that men can enjoy. Gender roles operate through
the creation of binaries. It constructs a rigid system that does not accommodate anything outside
the male/female dualistic framework. One of the primary methods of maintaining this rigid
system is to seek physiological explanations for existing discriminatory practices. In Western
society had been predominantly patriarchal and heteronormative. However, from the twentieth
century women started voicing out their interests and eventually there have been various
legislations to safeguard the rights of women and include the queer community.
Gender Stratification as part of social structure
The family is perhaps the most common site for gender discrimination where women are
traditionally seen as homemakers, and this is how and where gender stratification starts (Oakley
16). The number of women in politics and education can be seen to be very less. However, the
scenario has been seen to be better in US as compared to others. In US, women in politics
reached to 14.3% in 2002 and 20% by 2017. In US, 80% of the women are literate (high school
passed). While, in Uganda, Rwanda and Mozambique, the percentage of women educated as of
2017 was seen to be just 41%, 68% and 29% (Verniers and Vala 20).

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Gender Discrimination in Workplace
Gender discrimination in workplace has been a common problem which includes sexual abuses
and insults on women. As per analysis of 2017, almost 42% women have confessed that they
have suffered from stratification based on the terms of gender While, it is a mere 22% for the
men. Out of a sample of 30 (on gender based sampling), 25 women have pointed out that they
earned less than their male counterparts.
Figure 1: Types of discrimination and the issues the women have faced
(Source: Parker and Funk 1)

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Reason such as receiving less support from peers and superiors, receiving less promotions even
after working efficiently, treated with incompetence and has been given the most tough work to
do have been the major ones for making it hard for women to advance in their jobs and receive
the same pay as men do.
However, things have improved since 1979. At that time women earned of only 62% of that by
men. By the year 2000, figures have risen to 81%. However, by the 2018, it decreased to a 50%.
In order to alter these scenarios, various laws have been brought in the country at different point
of time (International Labour Organization).
Laws against stratification of women in workplace ranges from Title 6 of the Civil Rights Act,
1964 which prohibits discrimination against a person in any place (including workplace) based
on the ground of caste, race, religion and sex (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission). Title 6 of Pregnancy Discrimination Act makes it illegitimate to discriminate
women in pregnancy.

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Works Cited
International Labour Organization. "Gender Inequality And Women In The US Labor Force".
Ilo.Org. Web.13 Nov.2018. <https://www.ilo.org/washington/areas/gender-equality-in-
the-workplace/WCMS_159496/lang--en/index.html>.
Lindsey, Linda L. Gender roles: A sociological perspective. Routledge, 2015:10-25.Print
Oakley, Ann. Sex, gender and society. Routledge, 2016:11-22.Print
Parker, Kim, and Cary Funk. "42% Of US Working Women Have Faced Gender Discrimination
On The Job". Pew Research Center, Web.13 Nov.2018.
<http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/12/14/gender-discrimination-comes-in-
many-forms-for-todays-working-women>.
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. "Laws Enforced By EEOC". Eeoc.Gov,
Web.13 Nov.2018.<https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/index.cfm.>
Verniers, Catherine, and Jorge Vala. "Justifying Gender Discrimination In The Workplace: The
Mediating Role Of Motherhood Myths". PLOS ONE, vol 13, no. 1, (2018): 06-57. Public
Library Of Science (Plos), EBSCOHost.Web.13
Nov.2018.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0190657.