University Sociology Essay: Gender Discrimination and Feminism

This sociology essay examines the pervasive issue of gender discrimination from a sociological perspective, focusing on its global presence and impact. The essay identifies gender discrimination as a significant social problem, discussing its manifestations in various sectors, including workplaces and educational institutions. It then analyzes the issue through the lens of feminism, exploring its different waves and how they relate to the experiences of women. The essay delves into the strengths and weaknesses of feminism as a social movement, highlighting its role in advocating for women's rights while also acknowledging potential drawbacks. The analysis covers the origins of gender stereotypes, societal biases, and the biological factors that contribute to discrimination. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of addressing gender inequality and the contributions of feminism in addressing gender discrimination, advocating for further action to foster a more equitable society.

SOCIOLOGY
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Table of contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................3
Identification of a social issue:........................................................................................................3
Social perspective on feminism:......................................................................................................4
Strengths and weaknesses of feminism:..........................................................................................6
Conclusion:......................................................................................................................................8
Reference list:..................................................................................................................................9
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Introduction:
Sociology plays an important role in concern to resolving various social and global issues.
Primarily, it is studied on individuals about the society to develop a healthy and prosperous
society. Moreover, it provides enhanced perspective towards the society using studying the roles
of various institutions and forming a planned society. In this essay, a particular issue of gender
discrimination has been taken into account and has been thoroughly discussed throughout the
essay. Moreover, the social perspective of feminism, as well as its strengths and weaknesses of
such perspective, have also been discussed. Therefore, it would provide deep insight regarding
the major social issue and a thorough understanding of sociology.
Identification of a social issue:
The social issue exists in almost every part of the world. Somewhere the issue exists largely,
somewhere a little less. This is a growing problem and needs serious actions to resolve such
issue and plan for a better society. It is the prime responsibility of every individual to join hands
together and come down to solve such problems of society.
In the recent scenario, gender discrimination has been keeping appearing, not only in one
particular society however all around the globe. According to Collyer (2014), the modern era has
become so advanced and enhanced that women and men are equally recognized as an important
asset regarding businesses as well as other roles of society. Gone are days when men used to be
considered as the superior in every term of society however in this modern era, women are no
less than men in competing. In the recent analysis, it has been evaluated that women progress
better than men regarding achieving goals in every prospect of life. Take it from any angle, from
universities to workplaces and from boardrooms to government sectors; women prosper in every
ground. This has seriously affected the positions of men and which led to a feeling of
insecurities. Typically as well as in general men used to handle the leadership roles of any such
sectors be it in the case of private or public (Schmitt et al. 2014, p.921). However, due to the
given equal importance to women and acquiring the major positions of men has created a kind of
insecurity and aggression.
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Since last five years, the growing problem of gender discrimination has been coming into a
picture from a particular society as well as globally. Harassing of women in workplaces by their
co-workers or colleagues regarding productivity or else any uncertain failure at work is a major
issue associated. The worst part associated with the harassment is passing or commenting
evocative on sexual as well as making fun of them. Moreover, questioning inappropriately
regarding their private life and on their looks is totally discriminating. According to a study in
2014, it has been reported that mothers in workplaces have experienced serious discrimination
throughout pregnancy, parental leave and although on come back to their work. Moreover,
several mothers in such societies have specifically indicated that either they have been
considered as unneeded or been discharged from work.
No parental leave or any consideration has been given to them as per their requests. It has come
to notice that in a particular society or nation, the average salary of women is just half as
compared to men (Dubbelt, Rispens, and Demerouti, 2016, p.231). This, in turn, results in
women faces as well as experiences a significant amount of poverty in their retirement stage. In
several nations as well as societies around the globe has a growing issue of physical violence
towards women of 15 years of age and above. On the other hand, virtually in few cases, the
issue of sexual attack comes into existence. It has been projected by several human rights
commissions around the world that if some necessary actions have not been taken, then it may
result in affecting a nation's economy. Such sociological issues are disturbing as well as creating
a negative impact on the social environment.
A social perspective on feminism:
With a perspective on a social issue that helps to identify the conflict and although find
appropriate ways to resolve such issues. The feminist perspective has been considered as conflict
theory by many research scholars and discovered it is much common with conflict theory. With
the identification of a social issue of gender discrimination, feminism perspective would be
applied to analyze such issue. Primarily, feminist perspective focuses on the sexual point of
reference, economical category, and freedom. It has been considered, as the feminist
perspective comprises of three waves. The first wave of such perspective focused on the women
sufferings and inequalities on the ground of politics. Later in the 60’s second wave had come
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into picture which has focused on liberation movement by women regarding preventing gender
inequalities in workplaces, families and maternal (Edmondson and Luhtakallio, 2016, p.67).
Recently, the third wave has been formed with prime focuses on globalization, structuralism, and
modernism.
This social perspective is significantly related to the issue of gender discrimination and hence
would be helpful to analyze such problem. With the perspective of feminism, it can be easily
identified the sufferings of women in the society and their hidden emotions to tackle such
problems in their daily lives. According to Green (2016) feminism sociology helps to scrutinize
genders in its comparative to equality and spontaneous effect within a large society. A different
perspective would give a diverse outlook on the issues that has been or intended to rise. To
comprehend such issue and analyze the cause of that issue, it is essential to adopt a related
perspective and view aspects as per the perspective. Gender discrimination is rising on a daily
basis and as per the data analysis; it is clear that it is a growing problem and requires crucial
action in its prevention. About the issue of gender discrimination in societies around the world, it
is utmost importance to understand the cause of it. Men are often considered themselves to be the
most superior in society as they live their life on practical aspects rather than fancies. Society
always has stereotyped genders as per their interests and capability. For instance, a store layout
in a shopping mall has different sections of items such as for girls and boys. The store
department of girls would comprise of preferably ladies items such as kitchen toys, dolls, make-
up items, fancy clothes, etc. Whereas, in the boy's section, it is common to find electronic pens,
gadgets, video games, robots and construction toys. This sets a clear idea of understanding
gender stereotyping. However, marketers never strengthen gender stereotypes. The differences
between men and women about their interests and desire have stretched a clear perspective
women are of childish nature and weaker in compare to men. Moreover, the reservation of seats
for women in public transportations has also set a perception among the society and men that
they are weaker and requires massive support to survive (Thompson et al. 2016, p.7). This, in
turn, has made it apparent that they are not fit in roles of leadership, services and
entrepreneurship hence, considered as inappropriate and unfit.
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Biases among men about their superiority and excellence in workplaces often led to domination
to women. Moreover, the biological differences between men and women have also led to
differentiating in context to their strength, power, and capability. Traditionally, women are being
dominated in workstations, scholastic, and sports. Forsey, Low and Glance (2013) have stated
that the enduring consequence of preferential treatment towards men and inappropriate
behavior/actions towards women is the major grounds of gender discrimination.
Strengths and weaknesses of feminism:
Lawler (2015) stated that feminism is a compilation of engagements and philosophy focused
primarily in classifying, creating and safeguarding the equivalent cultural, political, financial,
cultural and social rights of them. Feminism seems to have an effective and productive
movement about preserving the social rights of women, however; there are several strengths and
weaknesses of feminism. Becker and Bryant (2016) affirmed that to state the strength of
feminism that has a massive influence on the women that led them to flourish in every field of
achievement. Looking back to past years, feminism has been engaged in reinforcing as well as
defending women rights within the society. Feminism has already been on track to resolve
several arising issues of discriminations in concern to workplaces, leadership roles, and
entrepreneurship. Domination by males in workplaces and around every aspect of social life is
the prime factor in establishing this movement of feminism.
Strengths
 Feminism uncovers the dangers and consequences of patriarchy
 It is considered as the powerful voice of women
 It unites every woman in a society and joins the movement
 It reacts quickly and safeguards the rights of every woman
 It helps significantly in reinforcing women towards discrimination
 Provides massive support to every woman around the globe and resolves all sorts of
discrimination issues
 Transforms the women society using motivation, enhancement, and reinforcement
 Capability and readiness to cooperate
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The strengths of feminism have a significant effect on the strengthening of gender
discriminations well solving various issues of women in the social life. Feminism has solid
grounds in raising voice against gender discrimination, sexual assault, and biases in several
workplaces both in the case of private or government sectors. They have incorporated a state of
cooperation where every woman of society are it in context to nationally or internationally
(Durkheim, 2014, p.46). Women from every society around the world have faced as well as
experienced end number of discriminations, especially in context to organizations. However, the
formation of such movement called feminism has majorly helped the women of society
regarding safeguarding their equal rights and necessities in the society.
Weaknesses
 Few women in the society feels or thinks that they are equal in everything regarding their
physical appearance
 Some women overuse their power of feminism and which creates a negative impact on
the social issues of gender discrimination
 The perception of against male or anti-male has an adverse effect on the gender
discrimination which defines to the society that feminism imposes unnecessary actions
 As per the feminism perception, everything in social life would be equal to sex
 Unnecessary consideration of harassment even if the opposite sex has done nothing to
which it can be considered as harassment
Herbert (2013) affirmed that the weaknesses of feminism often arise when inappropriate and
unnecessary actions or activities have been imposed to the opposite sex or towards the society.
Feminism is of greater help and is very cooperative about the safeguarding of women rights and
equalities. However, if there is an unneeded and false impose of discrimination, which would
adversely affect the actions of feminism and towards its perspectives. Every perspective has its
views and opinions in concern to its issues or benefits (Coppock, Haydon, and Richter, 2014,
p.116). The outlook needs to be valid and to the point which would provide a better
understanding of the issue and hence effectiveness towards solving the issue.
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Conclusion:
This is to conclude that social issues arise in every aspect of life hence it is necessary as well as
needful to take significant actions to its prevention. Since gender discrimination is a growing
problem in every society around the world, it is of enormous importance to resolve such issues at
earliest. In concern to feminism, that has played a significant role in the society for women from
every corner of the world. It has been clearly understood that social issue exists in every scenario
of life however it is the prime duty of society to comprehend the problem and find possible ways
to resolve it. The contribution that feminism has provided to the society is enormous and
extremely helpful. It has majorly succeeded in resolving various violent as well as disturbing
issues around the world. To understand the root causes and the impacts, it is of prime importance
to acquire or adopt feminism perspective. With this, it can be clearly identified in context to
gender discrimination and its issues, which often take place within the society. Therefore,
understanding the concept of sociology and its various issues is majorly important which in turn
would lead to joint engage in solving such problems at large. Moreover, any individual of
opposite sex would find it difficult to understand the feeling and the disturbance in mind of
getting offended and discriminated. Hence, it is suggested to adopt the feminist perspective and
analyze issues precisely to understand the root causes and its effects.
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Reference list:
Becker, H.A. and Bryant, C.G. eds., (2016). What has sociology achieved?. Springer.
Collyer, F., (2014). Sociology, sociologists and core–periphery reflections. Journal of
Sociology, 50(3), pp.252-268.
Coppock, V., Haydon, D. and Richter, I., (2014). The illusions of post-feminism: New women,
old myths. Routledge, pp.114-167
Dubbelt, L., Rispens, S. and Demerouti, E., (2016). Gender discrimination and job
characteristics. Career Development International, 21(3), pp.230-245.
Durkheim, E., (2014). The rules of sociological method: and selected texts on sociology and its
method. Simon and Schuster, pp.41-78
Edmondson, R. and Luhtakallio, E., (2016). Writing sociology, publishing sociology.
Forsey, M., Low, M. and Glance, D., (2013). Flipping the sociology classroom: Towards a
practice of online pedagogy. Journal of Sociology, 49(4), pp.471-485.
Green, L., (2016). Understanding the life course: sociological and psychological perspectives.
John Wiley & Sons.
Herbert, S., (2013). Study of Sociology. Hardpress Limited.
Lawler, S., (2015). Identity: sociological perspectives. John Wiley & Sons.
Schmitt, M.T., Branscombe, N.R., Postmes, T. and Garcia, A., (2014). The consequences of
perceived discrimination for psychological well-being: A meta-analytic review. Psychological
Bulletin, 140(4), p.921.
Thompson, W.E., Hickey, J.V. and Thompson, M.L., (2016). Society in focus: An introduction to
sociology. Rowman & Littlefield, pp.5-21
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