Gender

Question 1

Two Areas of Life with Gender Inequality

Answer 1

1) Families and Households

2) The workplace

Question 2

Give a piece of evidence for gender inequality in families and households - 1a.

Answer 2

Women carry out an overall average of 60% more unpaid work (e.g. housework) than men.
- ONS (2016)

Question 3

Identify a supporting sociologist for gender inequality in families and households - 1a.

Anne Oakley

Duncombe and Marsden (1995)

Answer 3

Duncombe and Marsden (1995) argue that women work a triple shift with paid work, housework, and child care.

Anne Oakley - the dual burden

Question 4

Give an explanation for evidence 1a of gender inequality in families and households.

Benston

Answer 4

Benston believes that the unpaid domestic labour of women helps to support the capitalist system. She contends that if women were paid a wage for their work, there would have to be a massive redistribution of wealth.

Question 5

Give a piece of evidence for gender inequality in families and households - 1b.

Answer 5

26% of women aged 16-59 reported experiencing domestic abuse compared to 15% of men.
- Crime Statistics for England and Wales (2017)

Question 6

Identify a supporting sociologist for gender inequality in families and households - 1b.

Sclatter (2001)

Johnson’s

Answer 6

Sclatter (2001) argues that behaviour such as hitting is more easily recognisable than verbal abuse and so domestic abuse levels may be higher than what is reported.

Johnson’s concept of patriarchal terrorism can be used to explain the violence that is the result of ‘patriarchal traditions of men’s right to control “their” women’. It is a form of terroristic control of wives by their husbands that involves the systematic use of not only violence but also economic subordination, threats, isolation and other control tactics

Question 7

Give a piece of evidence for gender inequality in the workplace - 2a.

Answer 7

Men’s wages are an average of 17% higher than women’s.

- Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (2017)

Question 8

Identify a supporting sociologist for gender inequality in the workplace - 2a.

Laff (2016)

Answer 8

Laff (2016) argues that women compromise with their employers to receive flexible hours in order to take care of their families in exchange for lower pay.

Question 9

Give an explanation for evidence 2a of gender inequality in the workplace.

Barron and Norris’ (1976)

Answer 9

Barron and Norris’ (1976) dual labour market theory may explain the gender pay gap as horizontal segregation (men and women being in different types of jobs) due to stating that women dominate the secondary labour market (part-time, low pay, temporary) due to having to care for their children or taking maternity leave and never returning to full-time work.

Question 10

Give a piece of evidence for gender inequality in the workplace - 2b.

Answer 10

Only 6/100 chief executives are women with their average salary being 77% less than their male CEO counterparts.
- High Pay Centre Report (2017)

Question 11

Identify a supporting sociologist for gender inequality in the workplace - 2b.

Purcell (2010)

Answer 11

Purcell (2010) argued that gender stereotypes and discrimination create the glass ceiling regardless of qualifications.