Answer To: Answer the following essay question: How is inequality reproduced? Your answer should refer...
Rimsha answered on Sep 17 2021
HOW IS INEQUALITY REPRODUCED?
(WITH REFERENCE TO GENDER INEQUALITY)
Table of Contents
Introduction 3
Prevalence of Gender Inequality in the Society 3
Socialisation of Gender Roles 4
Complications of Gender 5
Theories of Sociology 5
Functionalism 5
Conflict Theory 6
Conclusion 6
References 8
Introduction
In the 21st century, despite the era, being known as modern and technological advance era, yet the rate of prevalence of inequality in the society is very high. The pattern of inequality can be observed all over the world either in small stretch or at very large level. Inequality can be defined as the existence of the disparity of rewards and opportunities between different social positions. Inequality in the society is an outcome of the hierarchies of the class, race, gender, ethnicity, and sexuality. The inequality has been structured, and there has been recurrent pattern of unequal distribution of wealth, goods, opportunities, rewards, and punishment. Prevalence of inequality acts as contagious disease, which affect the victim and the surrounding people.
For example, in case gender inequality, there has been discrimination towards one gender, and high preference or privilege given to other gender. In general, it has been seen that there is high rate of inequality towards women. Discrimination of the individual at community, and institutional level is responsible for the process of reproducing inequality against gender everywhere. For example, women are given low salary in comparison to men for doing the same level of job. In the following essay, critically analyse the reproduction of gender inequality has been done under the lens of sociology.
Prevalence of Gender Inequality in the Society
Gender inequality can be defined as the type of inequality, in which one gender enjoys all the rewards and benefit, whereas other gender struggle to survive. As suggested by Fincher (2016), it has been seen that gender inequality has been highly seen in women mainly. The biasness of the society towards men is very rare in comparison to the women. The inequality towards the women can be seen everywhere whether it is in a community or in at a workplace. As noted by Besse (2018), inequality towards the women has a very long history. Before 19th century, women failed to get the basic rights, which include right to vote or right to work. In some countries, even after World War II, the era when world has been seeing the technological advancement, the condition of the women remains same.
In the world of men, certain women took the courage and raised their voices for the equality. As mentioned by Kleven, Landais and Sogaard (2018), the progression of the women towards the equality is slow and uneven. It has been seen that women are underrepresented in leadership and managerial position. Despite women have shown their capability in all the fields, yet they contribution in the society is merely appreciated. As mentioned by Jayachandran (2015), the scenario of developing and underdeveloped countries is worse than the developed countries. In developed countries, although, most of the women are independent and working, yet society had found many ways to suppress the women. For example, the disparity of pay between men and women, in which it has been seen that there is very high pay gap, with women being given far lesser salaries in comparison to the men.
As mentioned by Ridgeway (2018), in developing countries, yet women are not getting their basic rights despite several policies established by women. It has been seen that the success of the women in their education, sports, and all other fields have established the fact that women is capable to move equally with men, but the persistence of the society to neglect the women about their rights. It has been noted that gender is the social phenomenon or concept, which is based on the physical difference. This physical difference comes from the natural appearance of the two separate genders. As noted by Baland, Bardhan and Bowles (2018), gender is a social phenomenon, which has been taught to everyone in historical and cultural context. The socialisation of the gender roles can be act as a culprit to reproduce gender inequality.
Socialisation of Gender Roles
It has been seen that there is gender stereotype in the society. It has been seen that there is specificity of gender roles, still prevalent in the society. As mentioned by Ellemers (2018), it is...