Education, Perception, and Gender Bias in Accounting - Essay Example

Education, Perception, and Gender Bias in Accounting The American Accounting Association (AAA) defines accounting as the process of measuring, identifying, and communicating economic events that occur in an area. This process is undertaken to allow informed decision making, and judgement from the would-be users of the accounting information gathered. There are many parties that are interested in accounting information. These include banks among other financial institutions, the government, employees of organizations, and most importantly, the general public. Financial advisors also benefit tremendously from this information. The use of accounting in everyday life is paramount. Therefore, its use should be recognised around the world. Without accounting, money would not have a definite manner of being properly utilised. This paper will review the education and bias that women often go through in relation to accounting as a field of study, also, as a career choice that they can make. As many fields in the market today, accounting and finance is considered a man’s field of expertise. This means that whenever there are opportunities to be filled in relation to accounting and finance, men always get the upper hand. Gender related discrimination and bias have found their way into the working field of accounting. The perception that is created here is that women cannot be accomplished accountants when the chance arises. This perception, as many women are out to prove, is flawed. They are out to prove that whatever men can do, they can do better. The education sector in many countries does not pay keen attention to the number of female accounting students (Klein 28). The number of female students in the accounting class cannot be compared to the number of male students in higher learning institutions, for example, universities and colleges. As seen above, accounting and finance is considered a field dominated by men. However, there are a growing number of female accountants and students in many countries. The encouragement they receive from different quarters like family and the government could be the cause of this rise. Sadly, the number cannot be equated to their counterparts of the opposite sex in the same field. Women often face discrimination in this field. They would rather do something they do not want in order to be considered part of society. The fields that women opt for, often considered feminine, are those that lack the element of many calculations, for example, accounting. Hospitality and tourism are some of these fields. What society does not seem to understand is that there are also some men who cannot do accounting. Also, part of society does not understand that there are women who can do accounting better than men. In countries like the United Arab Emirates, the number of female accountants cannot be equivalent to the number of those in the United Kingdom. In the UAE, the number is dangerously small. This may be due to the bias they go through even as they attend school alone, let alone pursue a career path designated for men. There have been attempts to help women around the world overcome career advancement obstacles and barriers (Wescott and Seiler 43). These are imaginary barriers often put in place by society that expect women to assume certain roles in society, and perform them without fail. The perception that women cannot be proper accounting partners is wrong. They can perform functions that male accountants can perform. They can probably do it better. A survey carried out indicates that women work twice as hard as men in fields that are considered “male territory”. Gender based discrimination has led to the growth of career advancement. Where the women come from, is where the discrimination emanates from mostly. It mostly comes from family and their immediate society. Women are perceived as the weaker sex between the male and female species. It is often said that the woman’s place is beside the man. When women seek positions in corporations due to their expertise in certain male dominated fields, it is seen as a sign of rebellion. This rebellion is against those around her, and society that raised her. What many people fail to understand is that women, as much as men, require an equal and fair chance to stand among influential people, doing what they love (Klein 35). Instructors do not help with the perception that society has on female learners. They strive to make time in the training of accounting and finance difficult for them. This is by insinuating that certain things were not meant for them (Wescott and Seiler 65). These issues can result in failure by female learners to enrol in programs and courses that are male dominated such as accounting. This does not help in the fight to eradicate bias and discrimination in the field of accounting. Inappropriate treatment of would-be female accountants in the work area is another disturbing issue that is not being addressed properly. Junior accountants at the workplace on internship could find it hard to go further in such a field. This is if they feel that the organization they are to work for does not respect them. Bullying in the workplace is a common occurrence especially to women. In the accounting field, male dominance has been established. This is what many men think. They do not stop to think that they could be ruining someone else’s chance at a shot to realise their dreams. Ethics in many corporations does not get enough attention. This is in relation to the gender based discrimination that affects most women. In the finance and accounting field, female bosses do not get the respect that is often accorded to their male counterparts. The duty assigned to men in the office will be done out of duty, but not free will. The men might be junior members of the corporation, but since the person in charge is female, they seem to think they are above her. The treatment of corporate female heads by their staff or superiors is not proper. If things go wrong, the female bosses end up paying the price twice as much as their male counterparts can receive. In light of this, it is highly unlikely to find a woman in any position of power messing around frequently (Wescott and Seiler 85). They know that they are under scrutiny from everyone, and the pressure to perform always gets to them. In recent times, the recent scandals in accounting and financial corporations are proof enough of the unethical practices that are being carried out by many people (Catanach and Schwartz 29). Many people are forgetting about rules that require them to be professional about how they are to conduct themselves at the workplace. Money is being siphoned out of corporations to the dismay of many. The people who entrust money to these corporations are seeing it being stolen by few people who thirst for money. The problem this carries with it is that the female working force is seen as being the cause of this rise in scandals. In conclusion, it is significantly relevant to note the contribution that many women can bring to the world through the accounting and finance field. A field that was once considered to be a male dominated field should allow the introduction of more female accountants. This is to increase diversity in the working fraternity, and allow for equality and fairness. Without these chances, it will never be known what differences can be brought to the table. These differences may lead to the growth of accounting and finance field. Many women are rising to break barriers that seem to prevent them from being actualised (Wescott and Seiler 97). As times keep changing, it is highly likely that women all over the world will want to break these barriers to attain what their counterparts have attained, and more. When they overcome this phase, the perception created about women being the weaker sex may cease to exist, even in accounting. This is in regard to choices in life concerning their career and vocational paths. Also, they are closer to ridding the world of career advancement barriers society has placed before them. Works Cited Catanach, A. H., and Schwartz, B. N. Advances in Accounting Education: Teaching and Curriculum Innovations. London: Sage Publishers, 2008. Print. Klein, S. S. Handbook for Achieving Gender Equity through Education. New York: Bantam Books, 2007, Print. Wescott, S. H., and Seiler, R. E. Women in the Accounting Profession. New York: Free Press, 1986. Print. Read More