Introduction
Males and females are different from both biological and psychological perspectives. Despite numerous exceptions, men are generally physically stronger and more competitive, while women are kinder and more creative. Unfortunately, these highly subjective ideas have led to gender inequality, a critical and complex issue affecting everyone. Without any doubt, females should not be inferior to males in the modern world, even though it was acceptable in the past, as gender inequality adversely influences many aspects ranging from culture to the global economy. Nevertheless, many women still suffer from the problem in the workplace or at home, and the considerable progress towards gender equality and women’s empowerment makes people blind.
Main body
To begin with, it is crucial to understand where the problem begins before trying to eliminate it. On the one hand, many females would state that they unconsciously aspired in their childhood to find a loving boyfriend, get married, and have children. On the other hand, males would say that they wanted to embark on different adventures, earn money, be successful, and enjoy themselves. Undoubtedly, the difference between the childhood dreams of boys and the ones of girls is enormous. The reason for it is the way children are educated in most societies. For example, boys are taught to hide their emotions, be brave, and concentrate on success by their teachers, parents, and the media. What is more, many people disregard the males, who are not masculine, which means competitive, confident, rational, and disciplined. In contrast, feminine means dependent, compassionate, kind, tender, and sensitive. Undoubtedly, social attitudes towards masculinity and femininity largely contribute to gender inequality, and it is the main obstacle for women struggling for equality.
Nevertheless, numerous individuals are convinced that campaigns for women’s rights and gender equality in the Western world are irrelevant in 2020. Undoubtedly, the problem is less critical nowadays than it used to be in the past. For instance, most women do not only take care of children, cook, and keep home clean. They more often appear among top managers of big corporations or political leaders and have the same opportunity as men to obtain high-quality education or excellent patient care. Furthermore, public figures can face severe criticism for making sexist comments on social media or lose their jobs for unconscious gender-biased remarks. “Gender inequality in the labor force and in the family highlights increasing trends toward gender equality, and the persistence of inequality as the form of stratification adapts over time in changing social and economic conditions” (Scarborough and Risman 9). However, the issue still exists, and the recent progress prevents many individuals from realizing its urgency.
In the workplace, gender inequality is easily noticeable, as there is much data over the issue. Many scholars research it, and the results of their studies in most cases reveal that females face unfair treatment while searching for a job or already working. For example, full-time working women earn only about 80% of what men make, and they remain underrepresented in the highest-paying occupations (Scarborough and Risman 5). It is impossible to ignore such information, as millions of females, despite their profound knowledge and remarkable skills, still struggle to receive a reasonable salary or get the position they truly deserve. Sometimes recruiters may indirectly discriminate against women because of different stereotypes. Sometimes females do not even try to get a job with the fear of being rejected due to their gender. Although many people in the Western world have already realized the importance of gender equality in the workplace, many years will likely pass until women receive the same treatment as men.
At home, gender inequality can often be even more evident than at work for ordinary people. Although, they do not pay attention to it but discuss the significant shift, which has occurred through the last years and whose results are primarily overestimated. Fortunately, women no longer have to invest all their time in caring for children or doing household chores, but these responsibilities remain theirs. According to Scarborough and Risman, fathers have started to perform childcare but only in tandem with mothers, who are responsible for routine tasks such as cooking or hygiene (1). Besides, regarding housework, men tend to occupy themselves with periodic do-it-yourself projects, while women do weekly cleaning (Scarborough and Risman 1). Such data proves that males still do less childcare and housework compared to women. Besides, when people hear about domestic violence, women are victims of their partners in most cases. The reason is not that men are physically stronger but that they put into action the unreasonable idea of being superior to women, which is encouraged by social attitudes towards masculinity and femininity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, gender inequality is a serious issue, which affects everyone. It starts with the stereotype of males’ superiority and turns into numerous problems. Despite having made a big step towards gender equality, humanity still faces the issue regularly, as it persists in the workplace and at home. Millions of women struggle to get different positions, receive a reasonable salary, or share household chores and childcare with their partners. Undoubtedly, the problem will persist unless social attitudes change.
Work Cited
Scarborough, William J., and Barbara J. Risman. “Changes in the Gender Structure: Inequality at the Individual, Interactional, and Macro Dimensions.” Sociology Compass, vol. 11, no. 10, 2017, pp. 1-16.