Sociology 2240: Women in Society - Midterm Exam on Gender Affairs

This sociology assignment examines the development of women's affairs in society, focusing on the relationship between work and gender. It explores how societal beliefs and policies have historically impacted women, including gender-based violence and discrimination. The paper analyzes the shift in traditional gender roles, where women are increasingly participating in the workforce due to economic factors and changing cultural norms. It discusses the importance of understanding intersectionality in relation to gender politics and citizenship, using examples like the "slutwalk" and the treatment of Muslim women in Canada to illustrate how various social factors intersect to create unique challenges for women. The assignment also emphasizes the significance of work shifts, including part-time jobs and women becoming breadwinners, and their impact on gender dynamics.

Running Head: Sociology 1
Consideration of Women Affairs in the Community
Name:
Institution:

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Introduction
Gender issue in society has emerged to be a matter of concern to the world on
developing gender affairs. More so, the focus has been developed on improving the
conditions in the society to help deal with the gender-based violence. Among the most
affected by gender discrimination are the ladies in the society who are considered to be of
low status in the community. The community has consistently undermined the woman folk
through the development of gender biased laws, development of beliefs that affect the
progress of women in society and exposing women to harassment (Shastri, 2014). The
developed beliefs have adversely affected the women in the society, for example, the belief
that women have the responsibility of taking care of the family with the husband as the
breadwinner for the family has denied them the chance to get education increasing their
illiteracy levels (Siltanen & Doucet, 2015, 137). As a result, they lack the necessary
knowledge required to secure employment lowering their possibilities of being financially
independent. The paper develops a study on the development of women affairs in society. In
particular, the paper studies how work relates to gender affairs and how policies affect the
development of women.
Ways through which work matters to the sociological study of women and gender
relations
In the past, communities recognized males as the sole breadwinners of their families.
As a result, women were confined to housework and children care. The aspect of role
categorization on the basis of gender introduced the classification of work that is paid and
unpaid work. In this case, men did work in companies and industries and got paid for their
services (Siltanen & Doucet, 2015, 136). On the other hand, women were given the
responsibility of taking care of children and the disabled in the society and to perform

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household duties. The work was considered a basic role and deserved no payment. In the
early setting, women were not allowed to fight for jobs with men since men were the
breadwinners in the family. However, things have changed assuring in a new era in the
society where women compete for jobs as men do. Among the key contributors to the change
include low income earned by males that is inadequate to meet the family needs and the high
unemployment levels that have resulted from high competition in the business field
(Miettinen, Lainnila & Rotkirch, 2015). Also, the changes in cultural diversity that is family
providence, the rise of divorce cases and an increase in single parents in the society. The
develop of divorce and single parenting has exposed women to extreme poverty calling for
their action to find jobs where they can earn in order to sustain their families. Furthermore,
the development of party time jobs has encouraged many women to join the working class
since they can comfortably manage their housework and make some earnings from their part-
time jobs. Some countries have encouraged women in the working class by passing a
legislation on paid maternity leaves that have been prolonged to between 6months and one
year for example in Canada (Anam, 2008). Similarly, women who work have developed a
self-reliant character fleeing them from stress owed to financial struggles associated with
poverty.
Importance of work shifts
Work shifts have assured in a new working environment that support both males and
female. The first shift involved the development of temporary and part-time jobs. Most
women got employment from these jobs though they had low wages and denied them benefits
offered by big companies to their employees, for example, the paper industry offered
scholarships to the children of the company workers and a leave that allowed the workers to
have time with their families among other benefits (Siltanen & Douchet, 2015, 137). Also,
the rise of women to be breadwinners to their families has assured in a shift in the working

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field. according to Canada statistics, 29% of households have women as the breadwinners
and the value is expected to constantly increase over the years (Boesveld, 2012). The rise is
owed to the increasing levels of unemployment for men following the competition in the job
market (Siltanen & Doucet, 2015, 138).
Importance of understanding intersectionality in relation to gender politics and
citizenship
Intersectionality is a concept used to describe gender relation with social equality
more so in the feminine perspective. The concept is developed in various fields which include
race, sexuality, nationality and religion. Intersectionality is described to advantage the women
and to expose sectors where gender discrimination on women may arise (Ferree, 2008). The
development also offers a voice to the discriminated in the society more so by bringing
different locations facing the same challenge together to call for their rights. The slutwalk
serves as a good example since it was developed to call for the rights of women from sexual
molestation. More so the walk was developed to ridicule the words used by a police officer
from Toronto Police station who defined the women mode of dressing as a slut. The
expanded to other countries around the globe to help call for justice for women mode of
dressing and also for a stop in sexual abuse (Siltanen & Doucet, 2015, 173). Among the
countries where the walk was practiced include USA, Australia, Brazil, United Kingdom and
India. Also, the move by Jes Saches and Loree Ericson to use porn/Erotica to express the
unfair treatment developed to women more so the disabled is an intersectionality move aimed
at reclaiming the women rights and the rights of the disabled. The dual uses artwork to
present their views and petitions on the discriminatory acts in society (Siltanen & Doucet,
2015, 183). It helps protect active institutions from hierarchal overlap. The rules developed
by Canada for Muslim women who are Canadian citizens is a move against the religious and
cultural right of the Muslim women and should be prevented since it is affecting existing and

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active institutions in the society. The law also develops race discrimination since it targets on
Muslim women with exception to other citizens (Siltanen & Doucet, 2015, 171). The law also
curtails the citizenship of Muslims since it is undermining their culture and should be
denounced through the use of intersectionality.

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References
Anam, L. (2008). Inadequacies and variances of maternity leave policies throughout the
world: Special focus on Bangladesh. BRAC University Journal, Vol. 5 Issue 1, pp. 93-
98
Boesveld, S. (2012). Women as the breadwinners: Turning the tradition model of gender
roles in marriage on its head. National Post. Retrieved from
https://nationalpost.com/news/ (Accessed 19th November 2018)
Ferree, M. (2008). Inequality, intersectionality and the politics of discourse: Framing feminist
alliance, pp. 1-20. Retrieved from htttps://pdfs.semanticscholar.org (Accessed 19th
November 2018)
Miettien, A., Lainiala, L. & Rotkirch, A. (2015). Women’s housework decreases fertility:
Evidence from a longitudinal study among Finnish couples. Acta Sociologica, pp. 1-
16
Shastri, A. (2014). Gender inequality and women discrimination. IOSR Journal of humanities
and social sciences, Vol. 19 Issue 11, pp. 27-30
Siltanen, J. & Doucet, A. (2015). Gender relations in Canada: Intersectionalities and social
changes, 2nd edition. Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford University Press. Print.