Gender Inequality - Research Paper Example

?Running Head: GENDER INEQUALITY This paper will seek to look into the topic of gender inequality from a sociological point of view. This paper will try to answer the question; what exactly produces gender in equality in society? Sociologists for a long time have carried several surveys in endeavors to answer the question. They have also tried to explain the dominance of male over the female gender. Sociologists have adopted two approaches to try and explain gender inequality and male dominance. That is, Functionalism and conflict theories. In later years, the feminism developed feminism theories to analyze social experience of women in society. Sociologists define gender inequalities as to the difference in status, prestige and power that women and men hold in groups, collectivities and in society at large. Thus, in examining gender inequality issues such as access to valuable resources need to be considered. (Giddens, 2006, p 468) Functionalists’ theorists view on gender inequality Functionalists’ theorists hold the view that gender inequality in society in terms of the division of labor between men and women is biologically based. Thus, men and women perform tasks that they feel they are biologically suited to. George Murdock an anthropologist concludes in her survey that sexual division of labour exists in all societies and thus sees it as both convenient and practical for women to concentrate on domestic and family roles. Talcolt Persons, a functionalist theorist asserts that the family as a social unit operates best when there is a clear division of labour among the genders with women performing the emotional and expressive role, that is, providing care and security to family and the men performing instrumental roles, that is, being the for family needs. (Giddens, 2006, p 468) Conflicts theories view on gender inequality Conflicts theories ideas on inequality are found in ideologies of to Karl Max and Fredrich Engels who viewed the cause of domination of women by men, as being rooted in class inequality. According to Engel, men gained control over women during the traditional subsistence days when societies produced more produce than required for family use. As a result of the surplus production, men gained control of the economic surplus. The male gender came up with strategies to ensure the dominance continued. The male gender devised two methods. They first brought forward the rule that only men could inherit property and secondly through the process of socialization and force which ensure women remain sexually faithful to their husbands. Engel noted that male domination increased tremendously after the industrial revolution developed since it made men wealthier and more powerful while it ensured women took a subordinate position since they involved in domestic roles. (Brym and John, 2009, p 266) Feminists’ theories view on gender inequality Feminists’ theories refer to the actions and beliefs that seek to support the justice, equality and fairness of all women regardless of their age, class or racial origin. (Anderson and Howard, 2007, p 326) Feminist theory seeks to understand the problems women undergo through so as to bring about their liberation in society. Feminist theories are important since they analyze gender and society as well as help bring social changes that tend to ensure social equality between men and women genders. Feminist theories have developed four major frameworks; the liberal feminism, socialist feminism, radical feminism and multiracial feminism. Liberal feminism argues that women inequality has its origins in traditions that act as barriers to the advancement of women. This movement emphasizes on equal opportunity and individual rights the as the basis for social reform and social justice. Liberal feminists argue that socialization of people based on their genders helps perpetuate because it involves learned customs that perpetuate inequality. Liberal feminism advocates for the abolishing of barriers that hinder women advancement and subsequent formulation and implementation of policies that promote equal rights of women as the men gender. Socialist feminism sees women oppression as rooted in systems of capitalism. This is a radical movement and argues that women are exploited by capitalist systems since the supply a cheap source of labour. Some socialist feminist do believe that capitalism work in tandem with patriarchy to make women gender less powerful both as laborers and women in general. Socialist feminists believe equality among women will be achieved only when the economic and political structures are wholly changed. Radical feminism believes patriarchy is the main source of women’s oppression in society. To radical feminists, the origin of the oppression of women as a group lies in men’s control of women’s bodies. They perceive violence against women in the form of wife beating, rape, sexual harassment and sexual abuse as the strategies used by men to manifest their power over women in society. Radical feminist believe that changes cannot be achieved through the current system since it is dominated and controlled by men. Unlike the liberal feminist who believe that the state aims to bring reforms through legislative actions and political participation, the radical feminist views the state as being dominated by male thus cannot be any source of change on behalf of women. Multiracial feminism has adopted a new approach towards the understanding of gender inequality in society. They look at the interactive influence of gender, class and race highlighting race as the main factor that influences the ways in which the lives of men and women are constructed. The central idea behind this movement is that the different privileges and disadvantages experienced by men and women are as a result of the position they hold within the social structure and their racial origins. Feminist theories have been developed with the context of the feminist movements. Women join in large groups to form movements known as feminism and regard themselves as feminists. The fundamental role of feminist’s movements has been the advocating of gender equality in areas of employment, family roles, reproductive freedom, public office and affirmative action. Feminist theories provide the basis of programs that would bring about social change. Each of the perspective discussed above provides a special way to look at the experiences of women and men in society. The different theoretical perspectives serve as bedrocks upon which feminists have formulated programs for social and political change (Anderson and Howard, 2007, p 327). The three theoretical perspectives discussed above will help shed light on the question; what exactly produces gender in equality in society? References: Andersen, Margaret L. and Howard F. Taylor. (2007). Sociology: Understanding a Diverse Society. Edition 4, illustrated. Cengage Learning, pp 326,327. Brym, Robert J. and John Lie. (2009). Sociology: Your Compass for a New World, the Brief Edition .Edition 2, revised. Cengage Learning, p 266. Giddens, Anthony. (2006). Sociology. Edition 5, illustrated. Polity, p 468. Read More