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Gender Inequality and Sexism

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Gender Inequality and Sexism

Gender inequality is a common phenomenon in every society. Women and men receive

different treatment, which influences their development in life. In patriarchal societies, men hold

the dominant position of breadwinners, leaders, and decision-makers. On the other hand, women

are a support system for men to achieve their goals. Traditionally, women were an extension of

men's wealth. Boys would grow up knowing that marrying and having children was necessary

for their success. Girls had to conform to a culture of subordination. Division of labor

accentuated this difference where men received brain-tasking and strenuous jobs such as going to

battle, negotiating peace between warring parties, and providing for the family. Women handled

domestic chores that required less mental strain, such as cooking, caring for children and

husbands. This system of thinking has continued into the 21st century despite numerous efforts to

fight gender inequality. The concept of masculinity and femininity has affected both sexes

equally regarding health, education, and access to services. Women are victims of gender-based

violence, restrictive health policies, and poor services. This paper will examine the sociological

causes of gender inequality, social factors contributing to this problem and explore various

solutions to the issue.

Sociological Causes of Gender Inequality and Sexism

Sociological perspectives of gender inequality enable proper interpretation of various

phenomena causing the problem. The first perspective is structural functionalism which has

influenced differing treatments for men and women. The theory states that the family is the

integral unit of society and its maintenance requires men and women to perform different tasks

(Lindsey, 2020). Men are breadwinners, and women work domestically as caregivers and
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homemakers. Breaking this structure would jeopardize the family unit. Consequently, the

perspective contributes to gender inequality since women cannot work outside the scope of the

home.

The second perspective is the conflict theory which postulates that human interaction

consists of a dominance struggle. Men are the dominant group, and women are the subordinates.

The dominant group sets the rules of operation that favor their species and discriminates against

the other section of society. These rules are ways to maintain control over resources. A German

sociologist, Friedrich Engels, states that the conflict theory is similar to the power struggle

between classes. One social class, the bourgeois, has control over resources, and the proletariat

work to finance their activities. The former ensures continuous suppression of the latter to

maintain their power. Once the proletariats gain control of the means of production, then the

bourgeoisie loses control. The same applies to men who must ensure they set laws that

discriminate against women and prevent them from exploring their full potential.

The third perspective is symbolic interactionism which thrives on societal symbols of

masculinity and femininity. Society associates women with care, emotions, and weakness, while

men relate to strength, ruthlessness, and machoism (Lindsey, 2020). Hence positions such as

nursing, teaching, and domestic services were traditionally dominated by women, whereas

politicians, scientists, and engineers were primarily men. This perspective shows that engrained

in every individual is a symbol that creates meaning and shapes their world view, consequently

promoting gender inequality. For instance, when going to an interview, the presentation that one

displays differ according to the sex of the interviewer. If the interviewer is a man, a person

subconsciously presents a robust and analytical character. In contrast, if it's a woman, the

individual may showcase the emotional aspect of social interactions. Inadvertently, the person
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has portrayed their perceived concept of female and male, promoting sexism. These ideologies

shape society and the concepts it attaches to things to achieve meaning. For instance, the first

thought that pops into one's mind when they hear domestic violence is the woman being the

victim and the man the perpetrator. This thinking is defective and can allow certain aspects of a

problem to remain unaddressed for years. The final perspective is the feminist theory which

addresses the gender privilege that men have over women. The perspective considers social

stratification and conflict theory in explaining gender inequality (Baligar, 2018). Social

stratification occurs when society ranks people, leading to differences in status and power. In a

patriarchal society, men's views hold a greater dominance than females. Today when a woman

addresses an issue aggressively, society tags her as moody, irrational, and uninformed, whereas

if a man does the same, he is brave, assertive, and confident. Feminism theory incorporates the

recently coined term "intersectionality," which postulates that certain social, biological, and

cultural categories create bigger problems for women. For instance, women of color face a

greater barrier to success than white women because they have to fight racism and social

suppression. Hence, the perspective shows that social stratification causes gender inequality.

Social factors that contribute to Gender Inequality and Sexism

Gender inequality thrives because of poor representation in positions of power. Men in

positions of power execute policies that favor their needs and enhance the continuity of society

(Shawar & Shiffman, 2020). From the rise of humanity, men have had the upper hand at

everything that entails life. This situation has perpetuated gender inequality and sexism on end.

Once women gain these positions, they will address matters that affect them directly. For

instance, the formation of the Women's Movement in the United States during the wake of

World War I addressed gender equality issues such as voting rights. These women understood
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that society would bend to their rules once they gained control of the political process. Issues

concerning health and women's autonomy lead back to political power. Voting rights enable

women to elect individuals who will fight for better health and enhance freedom of bodily

autonomy. This freedom includes the availability of contraceptives, family planning, and

abortion (Homan, 2019).

The second contributor to gender inequality and sexism is societal mindsets that influence

health, education, and leadership. Cultural barriers contribute to gender inequality significantly.

For instance, Female Genital Mutilation among African, Asian, Arabic, and European

communities contributes to infertility, infections, and hemorrhaging (Singh, 2012). The victims

lack legal protection because the act is embedded in their culture. The third contributor to gender

inequality and sexism entails structural factors. Various social structures contribute to gender

inequality, such as religious, educational, and commercial institutions. Religion has a special

place in influencing individuals' thinking patterns and actions. Most religions emphasize the role

of men as the head of families, providers, and authority in society. They automatically enhance

gender inequality by their teachings. In Islam, women cannot go to pray in the mosque when

they are on their periods. Additionally, they cannot hold positions of Imams or religious leaders.

The same was the Christianity, but change appears to be taking place gradually.

Educational systems of most countries were established on the principle of gender

inequality. Numerous countries still practice these beliefs and discriminate against children based

on their sexes. For instance, schools organize teams based on gender, such as football being a

male-dominated sport and cheerleading being a female role (Cooray & Potrafke, 2011). This

concept perpetuates the idea of sexism. Finally, gender inequality at the workplace is quite

evident in the low-pays and discriminatory promotion. Women earn less than men in almost
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every industry. Various actresses in Hollywood have complained of discriminatory pay while

performing similar tasks as their male counterparts (Khuzwayo, 2016). These institutional factors

contribute to gender inequality.

Sociological Solutions to Gender inequality and sexism

Sociologists suggest that political representation is vital to attaining gender equality and

reducing sexism (Kage, Rosenbluth, & Tanaka, 2019). Many of the problems women face

continue because they lack legal protection. Beginning in the 19th century, women took hold of

their problems and decided to fight for equality. They started with voting rights which enabled

them to influence policies that affected society. Once they gained these rights, they proceeded to

seek political representation. It was not enough that women could vote if they lacked their people

on the policy-making floor. Women better understand the problems facing them, and they are

more likely to pass laws that issue protection to their sex. Issues such as women's education

depend on the government's ability to open up schools for every child. These children should

receive equal treatment in schools that allow them to pursue the career paths of their dreams. If a

woman wants to become a politician, no barriers should exist to hinder this dream; they can

break the societal stereotype of low intelligence quotient among women. Additionally, when

more women are in positions of power, they can join hands to pass bills quickly, considering the

need for a quorum when passing laws in parliament. These laws will deal with health rights,

education, equal pay, and protection against FGM and domestic violence. Today, women in the

United States enjoy greater freedom than other nations because they have representation. The

current vice president Kamala Harris has joined the league of numerous powerful women who

have taken the political stage by storm. The contribution of these women will likely end the

problem of gender inequality and sexism.

The second solution that sociologists suggest is the education of women. Education is a

powerful tool of society since it opens up individuals' minds and qualifies them for various

positions. The purpose of education is to release someone from the shackles of ignorance that

dwells naturally in the minds of human beings; it shines light into the darkness of a person's

cognition and allows them to shape a worldview. Men were the sole beneficiaries of education in

numerous societies. They could study mathematics, physicals, astronomy, and theology, among

other complex fields; this pattern shaped the numerous discoveries that men pioneered.

Furthermore, prominent scholars such as Isaac Newton, Galileo Galilei, and Sigmund

Freud, among others, were men. Women hardly appeared in any history books, having invented

the revolutionary machine or concept that would change humanity. The situation was so because

girls never had an opportunity to learn. Those that did were from wealthy families, and they

ended up studying either poetry or other relatively minor subjects. Boys learned subjects that

empowered them to become the best versions of themselves. This phenomenon enhanced gender

inequality and sexism. Society associated women with low intellect, and they were behind the

hinder development of sex. Furthermore, education helps break the assumptions of the conflict

theory, which describes men as the dominant group. It empowers women to manipulate factors

of production and earn a living independently; they do not have to depend on their male

counterparts for financial needs. Financial independence frees women from manipulating their

husbands and relatives, reducing gender inequality (Walker, Pearce, Boe, & Lawson, 2019). 

Conclusion

In conclusion, gender inequality is a dominant problem that society perpetuates

institutionally, culturally, politically, and economically. From a tender age, children grow up
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with social symbols that help them create meaning in life. As they progress, they find themselves

in stratified groups that promote discrimination. Girls face various hindrances that limit the

achievement of their goals. They have to fight through these levels of discrimination to achieve

true meaning and purpose in life. Boys trend through life smoothly since society has made it

possible to appear faultless even amidst various wrongs. They receive higher pay and promotions

without undergoing the difficulty of discrimination that women face.

References

Baligar, M. P. (2018). Gender theories in sociology. International Journal of Research and

Analytical Reviews, 5(3).

Cooray, A., & Potrafke, N. (2011). Gender inequality in education: Political institutions or

culture and religion?. European Journal of Political Economy, 27(2), 268-280.

Homan, P. (2019). Structural sexism and health in the United States: A new perspective on

health inequality and the gender system. American Sociological Review, 84(3), 486-516.

Kage, R., Rosenbluth, F. M., & Tanaka, S. (2019). What explains low female political

representation? Evidence from survey experiments in Japan. Politics & Gender, 15(2),

285-309.

Khuzwayo, Z. (2016). Separate space: An approach to addressing gender inequality in the

workplace. Journal of International Women's Studies, 17(4), 91-101.

Lindsey, L. L. (2020). Gender: Sociological Perspectives. Routledge.

Shawar, Y. R., & Shiffman, J. (2020). Political challenges to prioritizing gender in global health

organizations. Journal of global health, 10(1).

Singh, B. P. (2012). Sociology of Female Foeticide and Infanticide. Where does the Law Stand?.

Passages to India, 57.

Walker, J., Pearce, C., Boe, K., & Lawson, M. (2019). The power of education to fight

inequality: How increasing educational equality and quality is crucial to fighting

economic and gender inequality. Oxfam.