Gender Inequality Essay

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

Gender inequality is a worrying problem that sadly a great number of women are affected by. This response will set out how all over the UK women are more vulnerable to domestic abuse and having to be out of work to stay home. However, arguably the most concerning effect of gender inequality on women is the glass ceiling which is having a severe effect on women.

Question 2

Low Pay (Gender)
Decribe

Answer 2

Women have been nurtured to have a caring nature and to have the skills of a homemaker - which gives women the perception that it is all they can do so in response women will attain a job within the 5 C’s - caring, catering, cleaning, checkouts and clerical work. These jobs are initially low pay however all require having social skills and are customer orientated.

Question 2

Low Pay (Gender)
Evidence

Answer 2

For example, when we look at the average earnings across all sectors, it can be seen that men earn on average £652 for full-time work while women earn on average £558.

Question 3

Low Pay (Gender)
Analysis

Answer 3

This shows that from an early age, women are told what they should grow up to be due to the standards of society, leaving women with the only choice but to seek out jobs that focus on these skills and attributes, which are commonly low-paying jobs.

Question 4

The Glass Ceiling
Describe

Answer 4

The glass ceiling is a way of explaining the likelihood of women furthering their career and attaining higher positions. Women are less likely to be promoted and are under-represented within higher paying fields such as law and medicine. Despite women achieving more intellectually while in school than their male counterparts, their intelligence and caring attributes are disregarded in the workplace.

Question 5

The Glass Ceiling
Evidence

Answer 5

For example, the glass ceiling is a reality as women are massively under-represented in these roles with only 38% of board members being women.

Question 5

The Glass Ceiling
Analysis

Answer 5

This means that women typically aren’t given the opportunity to improve their position in the workplace as the stereotypes and unseen barriers prevent women from succeeding further than men as in society there is still the stereotype that men are superior to women.

Question 6

Low Pay vs Glass Ceiling
Link back

Question 7

Having to be out of work to stay home
Describe

Answer 7

Women are less likely to go out and attain or keep a job as they are expected to take care of the house and their family because of this, it makes it more difficult to juggle both a job and a family as the responsibilty of looking after everyone can become overwhelming when also having a job.

Question 8

Having to be out of work to stay home
Evidence

Answer 8

For example, when 90% of single parents are women, it is not suprising so many women might be out of work. This goes some way to explain why only 72% of women are in work in contrast to 79% of men.

Question 9

Having to be out of work to stay home
Analysis

Answer 9

This means that men are given the ability to work and achieve well which isn’t the same for women as they often have to give up their work in order to take care of the household as it is in the eyes of society that the household is a women’s place, not at work.

Question 10

Domestic abuse
Evidence

Answer 10

For example, according to Health Scotland, around 80% of domestic abuse incidents reported had a female victim and a male perpetrator.

Question 10

Domestic abuse
Describe

Answer 10

Women are typically seen to be obedient towards their husbands who are stereotypcally seen as ‘alpha male’ however women who aren’t in work must economically depend on their dominating male partners, therefore if a women is not obeying the man, he will feel emasculated and develop a controlling behaviour to gain dominance over the women due to the stereotypical pressures such as being ‘head of the household’.

Question 11

Domestic abuse
Analysis

Answer 11

This means that women are much more likely to suffer from abuse from their partner as men typically are more dominant in a relationship which often allows the men to manipulate and abuse their partners in order for them to feel superior through emotional and financial abuse, making the women feel as though they must rely on their partner.

Question 12

Having to be out of work to stay home vs Domestic abuse
Link back

Question 13

More likely to depend on welfare
Describe

Answer 13

Women are more likely to experience poverty later on in life due to having a lack of a pension as they do not have the employment history to earn enough for a pension. Working less will essentially lower your pension as you haven’t worked enough to earn a higher pension which will affect them later on in life if you are without a partner who sustained a higher pension.

Question 14

More likely to depend on welfare
Evidence

Answer 14

For example, (according to the JRF), 20% of single female pensioners are in poverty which is 4% higher than single male pensioners.

Question 15

More likely to depend on welfare
Analysis

Answer 15

This means that due to many restrictions women face when dealing with employment, it is very likely that women will find themselves in poverty as they do not have the employment background to be able to build themselves a good enough pension, therefore meaning they have to rely on their partner’s welfare or benefits.

Question 16

Part-time work
Describe

Answer 16

Women are more likely to find themselves in part time work, as it is stereotypically seen to be the women’s job to be at home, to take the kids to school and pick them back up. If a women wishes to work they will most likely have to find a flexible job to ensure they are still able to take care of the kids, however this work does not pay well. These jobs will intially be low paid as they are working less hours, on an unskilled job.

Question 17

Part-time work
Evidence

Answer 17

For example, this has resulted in around 38% of women being in part time work in contrast to only 13% of men.

Question 18

Part-time work
Analysis

Answer 18

This means that as the stereotype suggests that a women’s place is within the household, which means that they cannot seek out full-time work as it is the women’s responsibility to give up their employment to take care of the household and their children, meaning that they can only work in part-time work in order to take care of all these responsibilities.

Question 19

More likely to depend on welfare vs Part-time work
Link back

Question 20

Conclusion

Answer 20

As set out above it is clear that gender inequality is really having a severe effect on women. Domestic abuse and having to be out of work to stay home really are worrying because women are often made to feel as though they have to rely on their husbands and aren’t allowed the ability to be self-dependent and not attached to their partner in every aspect, but the most alarming effect on women is the glass ceiling as this means that women are prevented from achieving greatly as there is unseen stereotypes which prevents them from success. All together though it is very important that more is done and quickly to begin to overcome these issues.