Addressing Gender Inequality in the Home and Workplace

The content discusses gender inequality and the importance of addressing it to promote equality. It highlights that gender inequality is a global issue, perpetuated by societal norms and cultural expectations. The text emphasizes the need for a shared vision on gender equality within communities and organizations, citing programs such as the Australian Gender Equity program (SAGE) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The article also touches on ethical challenges faced by social workers in addressing gender inequality, particularly when dealing with clients from different cultural backgrounds. It emphasizes the importance of treating all individuals with respect and equality, regardless of gender.

Running head: GENDER INEQUALITY
Gender Inequality
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GENDER INEQUALITY
Exploring Gender Inequality
We experience discrimination based on our gender in our academic, political, economic
and social life that is gender inequality. Gender is the social identity, expectations and definitions
related to the biological classification of male, female or transgender individual (McLeod,
2014).The gender inequality is established on the conventional notion that there are some
behavioral psychological and intellectual differences exist between men and women and these
differences make the men superior to the women. We often feel discrimination, especially
towards women in professional work places and in our social life. The inequality can be
experienced in various forms from the authority behavior and attitude towards us to the wage
difference between men and women (Blau, 2016). I will mainly focus on the gender inequality
that exists between man and women in our workplaces, homes and society.
Theories
There have been various studies, discussions, policies implemented in order to bring the
gender equality but the inequality still exists all over the world in almost every arenas of life.
Inequality theory
Modern feminism has given rise to the search for how exactly the inequality originated in
developed countries (Jayachandran, 2015). Great thinker Karl Marx has proposed theoretical
implication of inequality regarding gender relationships (Brown, 2014).
Biological difference
The biological difference of sexes is inescapable but the gender difference can be
avoided. The developed countries have tried to eliminate the gender inequality by redefining

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certain laws (Arat, 2015). However some believe that the biological difference will make the
inequality exist always. The general physical strength of men will influence the gender inequality
as it always has been. The three main factors that determine the male dominance and the
inequality are inclination towards violence, physical capacity and reproduction.
Sexual division of human labor
The inequality can be originated back to the era of hunter gathering. The sexual division
of men and women labor has been existed since this period of history (Bird & Codding, 2015). In
my house also I have seen how mother is working even after coming from work and father had
little contribution to daily chores.
Socialization
The biological identity of the women is based on their power of giving birth and that
leads them to the duty of looking after the children and socialization (Hetherington, 2016).
‘Maternal deprivation’
The women as mothers have the duty to save and protect their children from corruption
which has been termed as ‘maternal deprivation’ (Ralph, 2014). Mother has more responsibility
regarding our protection in the outer world.
Social construction of gender
In the nineteenth century the gender inequality was more focused on the social
construction. According to Oakely the various aspects of social construction establishes the
gender inequality in our society (Oakley, 2015). Various socio cultural factors influence
individual during his or her gender identity development. The expectations from a specific
gender in his or her social position are passed through various processes. Manipulation is the

GENDER INEQUALITY
process when we engage our children with colors specific to gender identities. The girls are often
dressed in pink. We can see how certain specific colors are associated with the girl child, at it
reflects in the baby products all over the world. It is not just the dresses the gender specific toys
are also there. Guiding boy and girl child towards gender specific toys is known as the
canalization process that has its significant contribution in the formation of gender inequality.
The parents expect their children to buy certain toys like girls would be buying dolls and boys
guns or cars (Andreu, 2016). This can be experienced further when we see the woman with
authoritative power in the office, often wears cloths that are generally considered masculine. The
tasks are also assigned depending upon the gender labeling where it is considered that certain
tasks can be done by men only.
Media and Gender Ineqality
The media has a significant role in forming the gender inequality. The depiction of
genders in TV programs, shows, films, billboards and social media are often form the gender
expectation and set our perspectives (Stead et al., 2016). The male oriented perspectives are
often reflected in the advertisements or programs that often place the women in limited roles.
Patriarchy
Patriarchy is a common symptom of the gender inequality in our society that systematically
favors men in most areas of life. Women are exploited in home where the unpaid labor of the
women is expected by men and other family members and the exploitation of her labor in the
professional world (Witz, 2013).

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Addressing gender inequality
A consensus and shared vision on gender equality are developed within the community
and organization. Women’s needs, rights and benefits are articulated in the development program
of the nation. The understanding has to be developed that the benefits of the socio political
context are mutual for both men and women.
Science in Australian Gender Equity (SAGE)”
In most organizational projects the gender equality objectives are included in the
program. For example the “Science in Australian Gender Equity (SAGE)” is an effective
Australian national program that promotes the diversity and equity in various departments of
science and technology (Moyal, 2016). I believe that the findings can help to grab serious
attention to the process and make the change program more systematic.
SIDA
“The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency” is working to reduce the
gender inequality and poverty in the world. SIDA gender analysis model is used in program,
sector or country level across the world. The activities of the agency are effective to build the
perspectives of men, women and children (Ericson, 2015).
Gender mainstreaming
Gender mainstreaming is a global program that has been established to identify issues
related to gender inequality and promote equality. In 1995’s Beijing World Conference for
Women the United Nations created gender equality adoption platform to promote equality
(Connell, 2016).

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Ethical challenges
The practice of justice for the social worker can prove to be challenging at times. The
equal treatments for all the clients, serving them equal opportunities and maintaining the gender
equality can create some ethical challenges (Thompson, 2016). I feel it becomes even harder for
the social worker if he goes in a foreign underdeveloped country to do the social work. If the
social welfare worker fails to develop a neutral and respectful approach towards the clients with
respect and equal service the ethical responsibility fails. The social worker is expected to treat
every human being as equal especially when they are dealing with adolescents and children
(Akademikarförbundet, 2015).
We can observe different socio- economic structures of our society might lead the social
worker to fail to understand and his or her treatment towards the clients might be aligned with
ethical misconducts. The western conception of gender equality might not be appropriate for the
nonwestern countries. While dealing with women clients the women workers weave their own
story regarding nursing or mothers but the male worker might not be able apply such strategies
as in certain culture the men workers might not be allowed to interact with the women clients as
they do with men. The worker also could experience ethical dilemmas while dealing with the
gender inequality in domestic settings. He might feel that certain actions need immediate actions
but might be accepted as normal activities of daily life.

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Reference
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