Gender and Sexuality Theories and Laws: A Deep Understanding

This report provides a deep understanding of gender, sexuality, and the theories and laws related to them. It discusses feminist theory and standpoint theory, and explores the everyday experiences of discrimination. The report also presents real-life examples of gender discrimination in the workplace.

Research method Part-
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Presenting two theories which are discussed in the context of gender and sexuality............1
Presenting examples of everyday experience using secondary material................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Laws and legislation helps people to live in the society happily and also present their
views clearly to others. Moreover, the current report also provide a deep understanding on
gender, sexuality and how women deal with every situation. Further, the entire study is depend
upon the everyday life experience and the theoretical perspective of different experience related
to gender and sexuality. Or that the report will describing different theories related to gender and
sexuality with variety of laws that are actually formulated in order to address the issues. Further,
the current report also provide range of examples using variety of secondary resources.
MAIN BODY
Presenting two theories which are discussed in the context of gender and sexuality
Gender theory is an examination of different behaviors of people in a society and also
stated how the features of male and female are maintained from other members who belongs to
different culture. While on the other side, sex refers to the categories of biological human body
i.e. male and female, also, gender refers to categories of social expectation, roles and behavior. It
is quire common that every workers faces many issues related to gender and sex, which affect
their overall life experience (Shakhsari, 2020). Moreover, there are many theories which
highlights and aware people to never discriminated people on the basis of gender and social
beliefs. These theories are :
Feminist theory:
It is one of the most common theory which analyze differences accompanying to gender.
Along with this, theory also use the conflict methods in order to analyze upkeep of sex function
and difference. Thus, radical feminism is concern with the role of the household in carry on male
control. Such that there are many societies where men's contribution is consider most important
and valuable as compared to women. Even it is the belief that men have more responsibilities as
compared to women that is why, most of the company also prefer to pay high amount to men as
compared to women (Delatolla, 2020). Moreover, as Patriarchy means the set of institutional
structure which are supported the notion that male and female are in uneven class, but actually it
is not. The belief behind this is the difference that justifies a sex section of cultural character and
inequality with reference to rewards, cognition and perspective.
That is why, due to patriarchal perspective and arrangement women view point is actually
incline to be suppressed to the point of being dishonored in a society. Therefore, it is analyzed
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that most of the women feel low because their work is consider best only because of old thinking
i.e. Patriarchy. On the others side, it is critically evaluated that in society, male are not feel
discriminated as women feel as well as in working environment (Masterson, Rabinowitz and
Robson, 2018). This is only experienced by women only and there are many places where most
of the women discriminated on the basis of gender and company also play low salary as
compared to men.
Standpoint theory:
This theory is introduced by Dorothy Smith's and consider the key of innovation which
helps these issues to overcome in easy manner by examining each and every position in life.
Author also recognized from the encounter groups which is actually initiated by feminist who
have many concern related to their personal lives and professional lives. On the other side, Smith
also observe that women's place in recent social group is actually divide because of old
perception within a society (Theories related to gender and sex, 2020). It is so because when
women have to crosses variety of lines in everyday such that they have particular work related to
children, spouse an household. Through this theory, Smith also present variety of point related to
the women lifestyle and thus, observe that from 18th Century, there are many situations where
women are discriminated and it can be society, working place etc.
As per the view of Loudd (2020) the theoretical perspective on gender examine that
people do not need to determine woman's experience in the workforce. Rather than, manager and
employees must understand the intersectionality and how a particular individual's content is
influenced by group, gender and time of life. In the same way, the structural functionalist also
look at the value and norms which also form society belief of occurrence in the personnel and
how the implanted belief and standard strengthen the division of work. Even after the World War
II, it is examine that range of women entered into working but they were paid less only because
of patriarchy thinking. That time, the values are actually supported by people but when women
started to jointly request on equivalent wage for equivalent production, that time many norms
were passes and this in turn keep changing the era.
On the other side, in the context of theoretical perspective of sex, Hsiao and et.al., (2020)
stated that when it comes to gender, functionalist mainly emphasis the grandness of control
sexual conduct in order to make sure about family stability. Moreover, structural functionality
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also identifies that family unit is consider an important element in social group, where they
actually centering on family in order to ensure about family preservation. Roche and Maury
(2020) also argued that there are different social norms surrounding the family life and this in
turn also encourage the sexual activity and also discourage activity outside of it. In the similar
way, from the functionalist point of view, it is analyzed that homosexuality cannot be promoted
on the large scale because it is not accepted by others. Moreover, this criticism is also not
favored by the society and the judicial adoption of same gender marriage, but on the other side,
in the current time, there are many laws which are also supported the same sex marriage. Thus,
this in turn also assist to promote people to live their life happily.
Thus, Queer theory which is an knowledge base concept of sexual studies that also focus
on physical structure of gender, sex recognition and sexual attitude. This theory also entail the
necessity for a more negotiable formulation of gender (Alexandrowicz, 2020). Thus, it is
analyzed that there are many quality of gender, sex and sexuality within a society and even in
the working area as well. But there is a need to deeply think about these issues so that it will help
to provide positive impact upon women.
In addition to this, it is also analyzed through interactionist that likely to analyze how
meaning is make in social action and even how the significant is also translated into pay
difference. People also think that when a women who display some behavior which is generally
conceived as an appropriate for leadership strength to be detected as “bossy” and challenging to
business. While on the other side, the same behavior is reflected by men then they are consider
as a best fit for an organization as a leader (Ormrod, 2020). Therefore, this type of thinking lead
people to wrong direction and it is not true that women cannot do the same work which men
perform. On contrary, everyday there are many experience which women faces and feel as a
discriminated. That is why, to overcome such issues, it is also examine that there are many
norms, laws and regulations are drawn that helps to change thinking of people. These laws are as
mention:
Sex discrimination Act, 1975: In order to response gender inequality, this law is framed
that defend man-to-man from being distinguish against in occupation, vocational training and
education sector. This law also helps to protect both male and female from discrimination on the
physical object of any marital status or sex. Thus, current law is also amended and then it is also
applicable for transexual people as well (Masterson, Rabinowitz and Robson, 2018). Thus, it is
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not applicable only for working area but it is also provide protection to all areas of UK, where no
one can discriminated person on the basis of sex and married state.
Equality Act, 2006: This enactment is actually a substance to Equality Act, 2010 which
actually combine all equivalence enactment within Great Britain and then proceed for protection
as well. This law mainly work to prevent the person to be discriminated from the working area.
Such that if person state that they are physical disable or mental impairment then they posses an
ability perform all day to day activities without any discrimination. On the other side, this act
also provide right to all women that they must be treated same within a working environment as
men treated. This clearly reflected that the law assist the variety of people and also strengthening
protection in any situation. This law also replaces previous anti- discrimination law so that it will
help people of UK to clearly understand the things in better manner and apply for the same as
well.
Equal Pay Act, 2010: It is an act which is also introduce by government of UK which
prohibits less number of treatment between men and women. This act mainly focus to pay equal
amount to both men and women when they perform same level of duties within a working
environment (Daniels, 2016). Thus, it is not only apply for salary but it also for all the
contractual terms and conditions of employment i.e. holiday entitlement, bonus, different pay
and reward schemes etc. Therefore, it helps to maintain a balance between both and if
organization discriminate them then they have to pay huge among as a compensation. That is
why, every company must comply with this laws and also treat all at equal level.
On the other side, there are many authorities are hire that keep monitoring discriminated
issues in UK. Such that Equality and Human Rights Commission is a non- departmental open
assemblage which is actually responsible for the publicity and social control of all anti-
discrimination and equality legislation especially in England, Scotland and Wales. This authority
was established after introducing Equality Act. Further, a National Human Rights Institution also
seek to promote as well as protect human rights in UK that helps to minimize the gender and
sexuality within a working place.
Presenting examples of everyday experience using secondary material
 In 2009, when a women applied for subordinate driver post in St. Petersburg Subway
system but she is rejected because the legal document forbid female from keeping job.
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But she never loose hopes and as a result, she challenge this in assembly related to
gender discrimination, but unfortunately, Supreme Court disapproved her statement.
Thus, this shows that there are many more cities where employers did not recruit women
because they did not think that it is best suited for the vacant position (Example related to
gender discrimination, 2020). That is why, it directly creates negative affect upon them
which in turn affect their future performance as well.
 A job advertisement is published in newspaper related to vacant post of Salesman, a lade
see the advertisement and contact a person because she think that she is best fit for this
post. But unfortunately, owner said that they require only male candidate and women are
not made for this post. Thus, it is clearly reflected that it is the case of direct
discrimination and even no-one have a right to discriminate the person on the basis of
gender. Therefore, this is a common example, and many women also face the same issues
while applying for a new job.
 On the other side, Marks and Spencer which is a top international company which also
approved that company pay low amount to their female worker as compared to male
worker and i.e. 12.3%. Such that the company also have approximately 72% female and
28% male which also reflect that company did not discriminated person on the basis of
any gender, caste and religion (M&S admits to 12.3% gender pay gap, 2018). Therefore,
report also shows that company have more number of female than male who keep their
role as a part time which is a key cause that contribute to gap. On the other side, only
54% of all male are employed for M&S do part time as comparison to 77% of female
worker.
 Another top multinational company which also face an issue of age and gender claim
after cut pay for night and weekend working for some of its longest serving employees.
In detail, there was a group of 17 members who work at Tesco before 5th July, 1999 but
company cut wages and that is why, group take a legal action. Therefore, this in turn
Tesco is facing highest equal pay claim which could be cost the supermarket giant up to 4
billion pound (TESCO faces age and gender discrimination claim, 2020). Therefore, it is
consider as a discrimination because company cut the wages of employees due to night
shift and this in turn also affect the overall business environment in negative way.
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 Another latest example is of Microsoft, where a female worker case against the firm and
also filed 238 complaints from 2010 to 2016. among all the complaints, around 108 are
related to molestation and 119 is to sex distinguish. Thus, she claim that company owner
promoted number of male employees but never promoted female (Corporate sued for
Discrimination against women and men, 2020). Therefore, it is clearly reflected that
women working in a top company also faces issues related to gender discrimination and
thus it also turn to affect the image of business in negative manner.
 In 2012, two famous laboratories i.e. Quest Diagnostics and AmeriPath also been litigate
by federal court for discrimination against female employees then men. As a result,
without any proof, company accept their mistake and also united to give $152 million to
approx 5 thousand present-day and formal female worker. Thus, it also reflected that
female files right case against company and also a firm is ready to spend millions to
developing new policies related to discrimination as well.
 As per the old tradition, in many companies owner did not hire women because they
think that they are not best fit for the position. Moreover, this old thinking leads their
business in opposite direction. On the other side, there are many other company who also
did not pay equal amount to male and female, even their job position is same. Thus, these
all reflect negative experience upon the performance of employees too.
CONCLUSION
By summing up above it has been concluded that from last century to this, changes
occurred and government also take range of initiatives in order to minimize the issue of gender
and sexuality within societies and business. Such that report concluded range of theories that
describe the perception of people for men and women, but unfortunately it is wrong and that is
why, there is a need to take steps by introducing laws and legislation related to gender and
sexuality which assist people to live happily. Further, report also concluded range of experience
which people faces related to gender and sex discrimination from last many years which also
shows that there are many areas where people are still discriminated and also pay huge amount
as a penalty.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Alexandrowicz, C., 2020. Acting Queer: Gender Dissidence and the Subversion of Realism.
Springer Nature.
Daniels, J., 2016. White lies: Race, class, gender and sexuality in white supremacist discourse.
Routledge.
Delatolla, A., 2020. Sexuality as a Standard of Civilization: Historicizing (Homo) Colonial
Intersections of Race, Gender, and Class. International Studies Quarterly.
Hsiao, A. and et.al., 2020. Organizational Ethnic Diversity’s Influence on Hotel Employees’
Satisfaction, Commitment, and Turnover Intention: Gender’s Moderating Role. Journal of
Hospitality & Tourism Research.44(1). pp.76-108.
Loudd, G. A., 2020. FEMINIST STANDPOINT THEORY AND WOMEN’S
SEXUALITY. Black Americans in Higher Education: Africana Studies: A Review of Social
Science Research. 8. p.77.
Masterson, M., Rabinowitz, N. S. and Robson, J. eds., 2018. Sex in Antiquity: Exploring Gender
and Sexuality in the Ancient World. Routledge.
Ormrod, J., 2020. Wonder Woman: The Female Body and Popular Culture. Bloomsbury
Publishing.
Roche, D. and Maury, C. eds., 2020. Women Who Kill: Gender and Sexuality in Film and Series
of the Post-Feminist Era. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Roche, D. and Maury, C. eds., 2020. Women Who Kill: Gender and Sexuality in Film and Series
of the Post-Feminist Era. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Shakhsari, S., 2020. Politics of Rightful Killing: Civil Society, Gender, and Sexuality in
Weblogistan. Duke University Press.
Online
Corporate sued for Discrimination against women and men. 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.thebalancecareers.com/gender-discrimination-against-women-and-men-
3515719>.
Example related to gender discrimination. 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.cgdev.org/blog/what-laws-matter-most-entrenching-gender-inequality-
worldwide>.
M&S admits to 12.3% gender pay gap. 2018. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/marks-and-spencer-gender-pay-gap-
staff-reporting-women-less-men-a8230751.html>.
TESCO faces age and gender discrimination claim. 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=376a55dc-c5c4-40d2-a6b1-
fc652b0144df>.
Theories related to gender and sex. 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wmopen-introtosociology/chapter/theories-of-gender-
and-sex/>.
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