Inequality Between Men and Women | Research Report

Running Head: INEQUALITY BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN
Inequality between Men and Women
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction
Men have been the dominant gender for many decades as compared to the existence
of women. Discrimination amongst men and women has been a serious issue for the nation.
Fortunately, things have been changed to some extent over a period of time. Encouraging
legislations and change in society influenced this issue. Despite progress, there is still a gap
in the equality amongst women and men that needs to be tackled immediately, considering as
a topmost concern for a better nation (Young, 2016). The paper will critically discuss gender
inequality and economic empowerment along with the system of factors that are associated
with the process women empowerment.
Certain legislations exist for such an issue at present, and it has also developed in the
past so that to provide an equivalent opportunity to both men and women. Gender equality
states about equality amongst men and women. UNICEF describes gender equality as a state
where women and men enjoy the same and equal rights, resources, opportunities, as well as
protections (Cornwall & Rivas, 2015). The equality between the men and women is
necessary for sustainable development and to comprehend human rights for all.
Discussion
According to the facts and figures revealed by the Australian Human Rights
Commission, it has found that the women residing in Australia have to work for an additional
fifty-six days so that to earn as equal to the men for the same work doing by them. This is the
result of the fact that the women's average full-time weekly wages in comparison to the men
in Australia are above 15% below their pays. In the year 2016, the average superannuation
for men was $270,000, which is nearly double than the women's figure that is $ 157,000
within the age group of 60-64 years. Apart from the wages, in employment places, women
have also faced with inequality (Humanrights.gov.au, 2019). Due to the women's reason for

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pregnancy, parental leave or return to work, they are facing issue in discrimination in their
workplace that has been reported by every 1 in 2 women.
Inequality belongs to the unequal as well as a biased treatment between the two
genders. In Australia, the inconsistencies amongst the individuals based on the gender refer to
as gender inequality. It has become a matter of big argument in society. The perception for
dissimilarity occurs directly from the wrong understandings as well stated position
(Wekwete, 2014). The inequality issue still exists, and that can be seen in several forms, like
inequality in the income or pay gap, employment, wages, unequal opportunity in terms of
education, and so on.
In the year 1984, the Sex Discrimination Act came into force in Australia. It has been
now a fact of more than three decades ago. This Act covers several issues of discrimination
that are in education, pregnancy, marital status, partnerships, and sexual harassment. The Act
affects the International Human Rights Obligation to change the attitudes of the community
and contributes towards equality amongst the genders (Kabeer & Natali, 2013). Some facts
have been represented within the statistics in terms of the gender equality that represents the
real position of the issue and the reasons behind the existence of inequality.
Further, every 1 in 5 mothers said that their contract was not renewed or they have
been dismissed from the job. The Australian women accounted for 68% of primary care, 70%
of primary non-paid carers for children, and 58% non-paid caretakers for the elderly people
with a disability or long term health issue (World Economic Forum 2014). In the year 2018,
Australia ranks 48th at a global level in context to the female political empowerment that was
down from 32nd for the year 2006.
The statistics show the dissimilarity between the men and women is enacting as a
major barrier to the comprehension of rights as well as admittance to the opportunities

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provided to the females. The inequality relates to the other systems that are ultimately
resulting in different experiences as well as a drawback for the marginalized women.
Empowerment refers to the commitment which ensures people that they have the
opportunities of making choices about the action they want to take and an ability to
implement their choice of action (Drury, Evripidou & Van Zomeren, 2014). In other words, it
means creation of sustainable structures, mechanisms, processes and relationships that
enables people to have control over their lives, increasing choices and equal opportunities for
any action. This is included of their personal development, social action as well as raising
awareness (Lamm, Tosti-Kharas & King, 2015). Women empowerment means to make
women more powerful and capable of the decisions they can take for the benefit of
themselves (Porter, 2013). Empowerment is the set of actions or decision that has been taken
to raise the status of the women by means of education, increasing awareness, literacy, and so
on. An empowered woman feels her existence as equal to any other or more than that. They
feel confident and equal in terms of any work or any right existing for them (Diebolt &
Perrin, 2013). Various steps can be taken to empower women.
The individuals, as well as the government of the specific nation, come together to
make it happen in real. Education for girls must be made compulsory so that to make them
literate and a better life for themselves (Chesters and Watson, 2013). Women must be given
equal opportunities in every field, such as employment and education, irrespective of their
gender. They must be given equal wages or equal pay within the same duration of working of
men. Various training and programs can be conducted for every woman, which makes them
learn skills to survive in the case of any financial crisis.
Australia has achieved a higher score related to education. As per the Australian
Bureau of Statistics, it has found that women and girls are gradually increasing their number

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of percentages in terms of education as compared to men (Gale & Parker, 2013). Further, the
Workplace Gender Equality Agency which is statutory of the government of Australia
charged for the improvement and promotion of gender equality in the workplace of Australia.
Earlier, this agency was known as the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace
Agency. The Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 is replaced by the Act of 1999 that was
named the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act.
The Department of Foreign affairs and trade in their report of gender equality and
women’s empowerment states that creating equality among the genders and by empowering
women, a nation can contribute towards their growth, development, and stability (Weatherall,
2015). There topmost priority that helps them in work on gender equality is more
participation of women, leadership, and decision making to promote economic empowerment
for women and to end violence against the female genders (Dfat.gov.au, 2019).
The involvement of women in decision making includes their perception, priorities,
and their strengths from several experiences of their life that is different in comparison to the
men. Participation in the economy leads to reduce poverty and growth at a national level. The
government should initiate to support in context to the housing. There is a need to recognize
that assistance to housing and income support system is important for access to housing to the
women. Violence is something that restricts the lives of the women, opportunities as well as
development (Hanmer, Radford & Stanko, 2013). It brings fear and sometimes a big trauma
within themselves that demoralizes their confidence. This can have an impact on the lifetimes
that needs to stop.
The Australian government responded to the above-stated concerns and strategies.
They support the UN Security Council that works for the women peace and security so that to
ensure the women will actively participate in every stage. The Australian government has

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committed to integrate a perspective of gender in its policies on peace and security and to
support the organization of civil society to increase the participation of women. To the
context of economic participation, Australia has responded by stating that they will integrate
gender equality in aid of trade by increasing the investment by 20% in it by the year 2020,
economic diplomacy and trade efforts after the recognition of the women’s economic
empowerment in the growth of the nation (Juhn, Ujhelyi & Villegas-Sanchez, 2014). It will
improve the advancement in the private sector. They will increase the economic opportunity
and trade for women.
Further, the government ensures to enhance the educations for girls and women by
prioritizing school retention and education with better quality to them. In the context of the
violence, the government of Australia responded by stating that they will develop and
implement better laws and policies for addressing the violence against the females and an
improves access to the system for justice. They will help the women and children by
improving their knowledge in terms of their rights as well as the legal system. In addition to
the positive developments, the number of women has been increased by 8.3% to 26.2% in the
year 2018 on the board of ASX listed companies. Over 90% of men and women in Australia
believe that the men should join in parenting as same as women.
Despite all the positive facts and government decisions and strategy over the equality
and empowerment, there is still a gap and long way to go in terms of achieving an equal
position of women in comparison to men. The barriers to gender equality, such as the
workforce of Australia, are highly separated by the gender and female-dominated industries
like aged care, child care, health, and services that have been underestimated. The huge
difference in the superannuation amount of women compares to the men makes them liable to
experience poverty in their retirement years.

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More than half of the female population in Australia has faced physical and sexual
violence. Due to such mishappenings, the Australian economy costs $22 billion in the year
2015-16. There is still a gap in the wages that reflects gender inequality (Hall, Agarwal &
Green, 2013). As per the government report, the average full-time wage of women is 15.3%
which is below than the men’s wages. The gender wage gap results in income inequality and
a higher gap in participation of the labor force (Blau, 2016).
Conclusion
There is still a long way to go to fill the gap or remove the inequality amongst men
and women within the nation. Gender equality refers to one of the serious and immediate
issues that need more attention to a beneficial conclusion. It is the fact that the volume of the
issue has very much decreased, but in some points like wages and income, it shows still a big
difference. It can be believed that with a proper educational opportunity with certain changes
and preferences for the women's it can change the thoughts of the people. In the social
transformation of equality amongst the men and women, feminist movements are considered
as critical drivers for it. The efforts of the government and the policymakers in terms of
removing the issue completely, some measures steps must be taken. They should remove the
gender-based restrictions, revise the tax policies, provide benefits on education, and
implement equal wage payment. Continuous effort in respect for the creation of an equal
position of men and women will bring success in achieving equality for all.

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