An Analysis of Gender Inequality in Health and Social Science

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of gender inequality, beginning with its definition as unequal treatment based on gender and its impact on individuals and society. It explores the concept of gender socialization, detailing how children learn gender-specific behaviors and attitudes. The essay then examines the concepts of masculinity and femininity and their influence on gender roles, followed by an analysis of sociological theories, including Parson's action theory, conflict theory, and structural functional theory, which aim to promote equality. The essay contrasts gender roles in past and contemporary societies, highlighting societal shifts and the impact of modern life. It concludes by discussing various forms of gender-based discrimination, such as sexual harassment and unequal pay, and the legal frameworks designed to combat them, including the Equality Act 2010, anti-discrimination acts, and the Human Rights Act 1998. Overall, the essay underscores the negative effects of gender inequality on individual health and performance, emphasizing the importance of promoting equality and eliminating discrimination.

Health and Social Science
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Table of Contents
Health and Social Science................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
What is gender and social inequality...........................................................................................3
Gender socialization.....................................................................................................................4
Masculinity and femininity..........................................................................................................4
Theories related to gender and inequalities.................................................................................5
Gender roles in past and contemporary society...........................................................................5
Discrimination based on gender along with laws and their impact.............................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8
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INTRODUCTION
Gender inequality can be defined as behaviours and different attitude of people towards
males and females. When people do not treat and give equal opportunities to people only because
of basis of gender is known as gender inequality (Grusky, 2019). In Gender and social inequality,
people believe that females are less likely to perform functions as like males and it affects their
living experience. This present study is going to show inequalities on the basis of gender and
views of societies in this context as how their behaviour affect performance of females. It will
also show effectiveness of action and sociology theories which can help people in promoting
equality and eliminating discrimination. It will also show some negative effects which
discrimination on the basis of gender have of people as it affects their mental and physical health
to the great extent. Lastly, this study will show importance of relevant laws like anti
discrimination, human rights, gender equality and others which encourage people to respect each
other and treat in an equal manner.
What is gender and social inequality
Social inequality refers unequal opportunities to people of societies like unequal and
different rewards, unequal employment opportunities, different social position in society. There
are some examples of social inequality and one of the main factor which cause and lead social
inequality is income gap, access to healthcare and gender inequality. There are some people in
societies who receive better opportunities and professional care as compare to others and it
happens mainly because of cast, ethnicity and income. Those people in the sociality who have
effective income, they are more likely to have better position in the society and those people in
the society whose income is not effective they get fewer opportunities in society and some
societal activities (HOURS, 2019).
In addition, gender inequality can be defined as unequal treatment and behaviours of
people towards others on the basis of gender. It mainly arises from differences in socially
constructed gender roles. There are several females who have experienced this feeling of
inequality at workplace and society only because of their gender. One of the main example of
gender and social inequality is Ellen Pao, who is now an American investor and co founded
diversity consulting non-profit organization. She stated that she was discriminated at workplace
and were given fewer opportunities only because of her gender (Lörz and Mühleck, 2019).
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Gender socialization
Gender socialization can be defined as a process through which children of all cultures
learn about social attitudes, behaviors which are differentiated on the basis of gender or towards
girls and boys. It starts at birth which often contribute in gender inequalities in all manner like
education, empowerment, employment and others. It can be known and better understood by
adolescence which refers a critical period in which gender attitudes and their behaviors intensify
and new gender roles emerges. In this period negative outcomes or results of some gender norms
starts to manifest. It is important for people and parents to make aware to their children about
roles of gender. Due to attitudes of societies towards gender children also start to favor their own
and same gender. It can clearly be seen in their attitudes as they talk with same gender of people
in an effective and nicely (Strapko and et.al., 2016). This perception and difference behaviors
lead discrimination. So, it is important for school and parents to allow their children to play and
interact in mixed gender group as it can develop their positive interpersonal relationship with
boys as well as girls.
It can also be said that gender stereotypes is one of the main reason which lead gender
socialization and in which boys and girls are expected to act or perform activities in a certain
way which are socialized since birth. In western concept it is stated that individuals are
socialized into conceiving of their gender as either feminine and masculine. So, overall it can be
said that it is a tendency for boys and girls to be socialized and act differently as they are
expected different attitudes by society.
Masculinity and femininity
Gender roles are being defined by these 2 words like masculinity and femininity. There are some
differences in self ascription of gender stereotypes traits and masculinity and femininity can be
identified by behaviors such as: household works, take care of children as these works are mainly
for females and girls are expected to perform these roles. Office work, foster family by earning
money is for males.
It can also be said that masculinity and femininity investigated perceived relationship
between gender related components and all these components impact on one another. Some roles
are being separated and allocated to males only and all these roles like job, employment, higher
education. When they become dominated and perform all these roles it is known as masculinity
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and when woman is seen being dominant then she is called bossy and is discriminated by
society.
Theories related to gender and inequalities
There are several theories which have been developed for promoting equality and
eliminating gender inequality and social perception of people towards boys and girls. One of the
best and effective theories related to gender and inequalities is:
Parson or action theory: It is one of the best social action theory which focuses on
maintaining positivity in an environment. Parson believes that by making use of social science in
actual and real world life, he can consider purposes as well as ideals while looking at actions.
There are main 4 systems on which this action theory works and also allow people to eliminate
discrimination such as: personality, social, cultural and behavioral system (Parson and Major,
2020). So, overall it can be said that it is being developed by Parson for helping out people in
developing level of social awareness as well as a sense of belonging for strengthening people's
social bond.
Conflict theory: It is other main sociological theory who believes that competition in the
world is increasing because of unequal and lack of resources distribution in societies among
people. There are different social classes who are competing for having access to social and other
materials like housing, education, employment, respect and other opportunities. This theory
wants to make people aware about gender and social equality in order to improve life expectancy
and satisfaction (Kelly, 2019).
Structural functional theory: It is other effective sociological theory which focuses on
explaining that why societies perform in such way and how it focuses on relationship between
social institutions. It views society as a complex system. It also believes that parts of societal
structure can work together and can make effective changes in the society which can be helpful
to all. It can also help people in getting equal and effective access to societal resources and others
and can motivate themselves.
So, from the above discussed theories it can be said that inequality on the basis of gender
can be decreased or eliminated which can improve life expectancy and motivate people as well.
Gender roles in past and contemporary society
Gender roles in past: Gender roles in society refers ways of acting and performing and
how people are expected to speak, dress, act and conduct themselves based on assigned gender
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or sex (Pushkareva and Zolotukhina, 2018). Every society and culture have gender role
expectations which differ group to group. Their domestic behaviors, personality traits,
occupation and physical appearance affect behaviors of people. In the past, females were
expected to do only household work and they were expected to talk less, be in veil, do not work
etc. Boys were given all effective and extra opportunities and it increased discrimination.
Gender roles in Modern society: But after development of laws, policies, perception of
people have been changed and are changing. There are several societies and culture who are
giving equal opportunities to male and female and are allowing females to work as like males.
There are only some cultures in which females are expected to be in veil in front of elders and
only perform household chores. So, these changes due to technology, modern life have been
made. 21st century has seen a shift in gender roles because of new family structure, changes in
living style, education, technology, media and others. There is one of the example of a girl who
stated and defined as how she lives nowadays. Now in this modern era, girls are allowed to dress
in traditional and modern ways. It is stated that girls are being seen and expected to wear
earrings, heels, suit and having long hair. But still some girls prefer to be like boys and they say
that it is their choice as how they want to be. There are several societies who are allowing their
children to be as like they want but be in limits (Gender Roles in Modern Society, 2019). As
compare to ancient and past, they are nit expected to be in home, do not go outside, be in veils
and are given freedom.
Discrimination based on gender along with laws and their impact
Gender discrimination can be defined as behaviors and treatment of people towards boys
and girls. As compare to boys, girls are treated in an unequal and ineffective manner and it is
known as gender discrimination. It can also be defined as a situation in which people are being
treated differently only because of gender. On the basis of gender, females are being
discriminated in different manner such as: sexual harassment, pregnancy discrimination, unequal
pay for women and others (Marom, Robb and Sade, 2016). It is the civil right violation so, in this
regard some laws have been developed which protect women against discrimination such as:
Equality act 2010: This equality act is being developed for protecting people against
gender based discrimination and unfair treatment on the basis of gender (Equality Act, 2020.).
There are some other main features and reasons of developing this act such as: improving status
of women in society, prohibited discrimination, promoting gender equality etc. This act has made
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several changes for example: Ellen Pao took help of this gender discriminate act and filed a
lawsuit against Kleiner Perkins due to gender, sexual and racial discrimination at workplace.
Anti discrimination act: This act is also being developed for promoting diversity and
equality at all place and eliminating discrimination which happened on all basis such as age,
gender, race and others. So, by making use of this act, females can seek for equal and fair
opportunities and treatment by society and employers at workplace.
Human rights act 1998: There are some rights have been given to people which are their
rights to get and seek for. Some common rights which all people have such as: right to live, right
to freedom of belief, right to respect for family life and getting equal opportunities. So, as per
this act, females can seek for fair treatment by their society members, family members and
employers at workplace (The Human Rights Act 1998, 2020). If they find exploitation of their
rights then they can file lawsuit against people who exploit and do not treat them on the basis of
gender and age.
CONCLUSION
From the above presentation it has been summarized that gender and social inequality has
several negative effects on people, their health and their performance. Social perceptions and
attitudes of societies towards boys and girls lead inequality in gender which de motivates people
and sometimes them become frustrated and become depressed. Further, in this regard it has also
discussed some theories which have been developed for eliminating inequality and providing
equal treatment to both males and females. Parson and social action theories have been discussed
in this study for making people aware about behaviours of people towards boys and girls and
also making them aware of importance of promoting equality at workplace and society as well.
Lastly, it has shown effectiveness of anti discrimination and other laws which have changed
perception of people and also allowed people to get equal treatment by others.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Grusky, D., 2019. Social Stratification, Class, Race, and Gender in Sociological Perspective.
Routledge.
HOURS, C., 2019. Social inequality.
Kelly, J.R., 2019. Freedom to be: A new sociology of leisure. Routledge.
Lörz, M. and Mühleck, K., 2019. Gender differences in higher education from a life course
perspective: transitions and social inequality between enrolment and first post-doc
position. Higher Education. 77(3). pp.381-402.
Marom, D., Robb, A. and Sade, O., 2016. Gender dynamics in crowdfunding (Kickstarter):
Evidence on entrepreneurs, investors, deals and taste-based discrimination. Investors,
Deals and Taste-Based Discrimination (February 23, 2016).
Parson, L. and Major, C., 2020. Learning Theory Through a Social Justice Lens. In Teaching and
Learning for Social Justice and Equity in Higher Education (pp. 7-38). Palgrave
Macmillan, Cham.
Pushkareva, N. and Zolotukhina, M., 2018. Women's and Gender Studies of the Russian Past:
two contemporary trends. Women's History Review. 27(1). pp.71-87.
Strapko, N. and et.al., 2016. Gender differences in environmental concern: Reevaluating gender
socialization. Society & natural resources. 29(9). pp.1015-1031.
Online
Equality Act. 2020. [Online]. Available through
<https://thl.fi/en/web/gender-equality/promoting-gender-equality/equality-act>
Gender Roles in Modern Society. 2019. [Online]. Available through
<https://www.oneworldeducation.org/gender-roles-modern-society>
The Human Rights Act 1998. 2020. [Online]. Available through
<https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/civil-rights/human-rights/the-
human-rights-act-1998/>
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