Gender Inequality Flashcards
What is the primary focus of Weberianism in relation to gender inequalities?
Status, party, and power as they relate to women
Weberianism examines how social status and power dynamics contribute to gender inequalities.
According to Li and Devine (2011), what are women facing in terms of life chances?
Found women are still less likely to upwardly socially mobile and more likely to be downwardly mobile than men
Gender inequalities persist
This indicates that women continue to experience disparities in life opportunities.
What does Functionalism, as explained by Murdock, suggest about gender roles?
Gender roles are based on biological functions in over 200 societies
Murdock’s perspective states that women’s roles are primarily domestic due to their biological ability to bear children.
Parsons: instrumental/ expressive role
What is the New Right perspective on gender inequalities?
They argue that gender inequalities are biologically determined
The New Right emphasizes traditional gender roles as natural.
Davis & Moore (F)
Social inequality and stratification inevitable in every society, perform beneficial functions for society. Therefore, inequalities e.g. pay gap seen as expected bc differences stem from different roles best suited to each gender
This perspective indicates that societal roles contribute to the gender pay gap and employment disparities.
What is the significance of the gender pay gap?
It reflects unequal opportunities in employment for men and women
The gender pay gap highlights systemic issues in workplace equality.
What does Human Capital Theory (Rastogi) emphasize about gender differences in work?
Men invest more human capital in work, while women invest more in the home
This theory explains the economic disparities based on investment in skills and education.
Inequalities in income and wealth actually legitimate differences based on the differences between men and women in human capital investment
How does Marxism relate to gender inequalities?
It focuses on the relationship between capitalism and the oppression of women (patriarchy). GI rooted in economic system where women’s labour is undervalued and exploited by capitalism. Capitalism benefits from this
What do Liberal feminists argue is the cause of gender inequalities?
GI is the result of gender role socialisation and unfair legislation and practices that reinforce discrimination between M+W. Changes in N+Vs reinforce gender divisions and legislation
They advocate for changes such as the Equal Pay Act 1970 to address these issues.
According to Savage, what is the trend in career advancement between genders?
Men are 40% more likely to climb the career ladder than women
This highlights ongoing barriers to women’s career progression.
What does Zaretsky argue about the capitalist system and women’s roles? (M)
It exploits women for free domestic labor and rearing future workers
This perspective underscores the economic dependency created by traditional gender roles.
What does Mac an Ghaill (1994) describe as a ‘crisis of masculinity’?
Working-class men face economic changes that leave them with no clear path in life
This reflects the impact of socio-economic shifts on male identity and roles.
GI in income and wealth actually legitimate
Low pay commission (2007): approximately 70% of people in minimum wage jobs are women. Inequalities in wealth represent a meritocracy
Weberianism view
Women face barriers to achieve equal status in the workplace and society due to cultural norms and expectations. ‘Glass ceiling’: there is an invisible barrier preventing women from advancing
Barron and Norris (W)
Division of labour market, men dominate primary sector (high skilled, high paid jobs) and women dominate secondary sector (low skilled, low pay). Leads to differences in pay.
Highlights how social and cultural expectations influence career paths which contributes to the existing ongoing inequalities
