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Gender Inequality at workplace

What women's go through every day

Sana Yasmeen

12th Ap literature

Mr. Janosch

11/30/18
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Gender Inequality in the workplaces

Discrimination among genders is something that is common in all careers. We are

exposed to various situations on a daily basis where people are treated differently because of

their sex. Gender inequality is a significant issue, not only in the United States but all over the

world. “One in four Americans apparently believe people will be able to time travel before half

of all Fortune 500 companies will be headed by women”​ (Lisa Ryan)​. ​This means that time

travel machine will be built before women are treated as equal to men.​ The main reason behind

gender inequality is men’s attitude toward leadership. The percentage of women having a higher

rank in a career is way lower as compared to men having a higher rank. Although the civil rights

movement eliminated the discrimination against the employees, many women still suffer through

the discrimination and gender inequalities in the workplace to this day, thus gender-based roles

should be eliminated in order to solve this problem.

One of the biggest problems that women face is the gender wage gap. According to

WGEA data women are paid 35 cents less than a man on average​ (Lisa Ryan)​. 25% of Women

complain that they earn less than a man who has the same job as them but only 5% of men feel

the same way. Women also feel that they have been considered less proficient due to their gender

(Kim, Parker and Cary Funk)​. This proves that despite there had been many successful women’s

rights moments, Gender equality as many Americans believe is that issue that still needs to be

spoken about. Although women made clear that they have the ability to perform with the

equivalent skills as men, they are still viewed less as opposed to men.

Half of the women in the United States feel discriminated at work due to their gender.

“About four-in-ten working women (42%) in the United States say they have faced
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discrimination on the job because of their gender”​ (Kim, Parker and Cary Funk)​. Women who

want to work have a more difficult time finding a job than men. The Rockefeller Foundation

conducted a research and found out that out of 500 fortune companies only 6% of the companies

CEO were females​(Lysa Ryan)​. This shows that there is a very low percentage of females in

leadership positions in the public and private areas. Women complain that they receive 15% of

the support from their leaders however 7% of the men have this dilemma​ (Kim, Parker and Cary

Funk).​ This shows that due to their gender women are not treated the way they should be.

Another reason for gender inequality is gender norms. Gender norms are how a specific

gender should act according to the rules that society has made for that gender. For example,

according to society, girls are supposed to be delicate, they should wear dresses, be housewives,

be polite and nurturing although men are viewed as strong and aggressive. This brings gender

inequality and gender pay gaps because women are viewed less and weaker than men. It affects

children's mentality as well because since childhood they are taught to be a certain way.

President Jefferson passed the Title VII of the civil rights act on June 2, 1964. Title VII

of the civil rights act protects employees from getting discriminated at employ based on their

sex. This makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate against an individual in hiring,

promotions, firing, or job opportunities based on their gender. This act should eliminate all the

gender wage gap and gender inequality the women go through. Equal pay act of 1963 was passed

by John F Kennedy on June 10, 1963. This was made because during 20th-century women made

up less than 24% of U.S workforce. During world war II there was a shortage of workforce

labours due to which women were put into workforces. Women started to earn less than the male

workers which caused the union to advocate for equal pay ​(Equal Act of 1946)​. Although these
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acts were passed, women still suffered to attain and enjoy those rights. 45 years after these acts

were passed, women still struggle with the gender gap. Women earn college degrees at a higher

rate than men but are stuck with the low paying jobs​ (Courtney Connely)​. In addition to lower

wages, women do not get the benefits pegged to salary. This shows that the gender gap is not

based on the lack of education or lack of skills, it is clearly due to the fact that men consider

women immature than them.

Gender inequality at the workplace is when women get lower pay as compared to men.

One of the disadvantages of this is lower Wages makes it harder for women, especially single

women to raise their families. If there was no gender gap, single women’s income would be

raised by 13.4 per cent whereas married women's income would be raised by 6 per cent ​(Six

reasons why Equal pay is still important)​. Which means that if there was no gender gap, it would

have decreased poverty by 50%. And women would have the chance to pay their student loans

and any other loans at the same rate or earlier than men. This change will only occur if there is

no gender gap, which seems nearly impossible.

Gender inequality not only has an effect on economic issues but it also has a serious

effect on a person's mental health. In this case, gender inequality has a major effect on women's

health. Due to gender inequality women's develop anxiety and depression, Which further leads to

the addiction of drugs and alcohol. This could affect the ability of women to perform her

tasks/duties. It could also cause conflicts in relationships and overall. This can lower the

productivity of the office and have a negative effect on other employees and on the image of the

business​ (Kimberlee Leonard)​.

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Three amendments were passed after the civil right for women's rights. Amongst these

Amendments was the 14th amendment. 14th amendment was ratified into the united states

constitution on July 8, 1868. This amendment addresses citizenship and equal protection. The

reason why this amendment was created was to address the issues related to former women

slaves during the civil war. 14th amendment has three clauses; the citizenship clause, the due

process clause and the equal protection clause. Out of these clauses, one of the most important

clauses is the equal protection clause which states that “a state may not deny to any person

within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws” ​(14th Amendment)​. This means that this

clause gives equal protection to everyone, with the exception of gender, race or colour.

Many cases have affected this clause to be made but one of the cases that affected this

was Schultz v. Wheaton Glass Co. This case was about a company who only hires men as their

employees, but due to the shortage of men employees, this company decided to hire female

workers. This company hired female workers under a different title but to perform the same task

as male. By giving males a different title, the company could pay the males higher than females.

When a female worker was hired, she earned 10% less than a men’s earnings. The secretary of

labour at that time George p. Schultz brought this case to the court on January 13 1970, and the

court determined that the task that both of sexes were performing was same but the gender gap

was different. The court made its verdict that women couldn't receive lower wages for the same

job with similar tasks than men. This case redefines the equal protection clause and shows that

women's have the right to get equally paid to men.

Although the civil rights movement eliminated the discrimination against the employees,

many women still suffer through the discrimination and gender inequalities in the workplace to
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this day. The solution to this problem is to make gender equality part of training and education

for employees. Young people should be supported in choosing jobs that are future orientated and

promises regardless of their gender. We can also use the power of networking, coaching and

mentoring opportunities that can help women build confidence and develop their careers. One of

the major barriers that prevent women from reaching the top of their carriers is the men's attitude

toward leadership. If men have the right knowledge about gender inequality they will better

understand what women go through every day. Also if the gender norms are eliminated men

would not have the problem to accept women in leadership positions. Other possible steps that

can be taken to overcome these major issues are diversifying the training process, teach the

advantages of gender equality to employees, encourage ladies to enter male-dominated fields,

spread awareness about this rising issue, and eliminate gender-based roles.

Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and half of it’s potential, we

shouldn't be gender specific when it comes to employment because this will let the companies

see the benefits of hiring women. Gender inequality has come a long way. It has gotten better

because of education and laws that were put into it but there is definitely a change to improve it.

Discriminating based on gender should be reduced. It causes segregation and has a bad effect on

mental health. In order to continue to improve this issue women should stand up for themselves.

Women have the right to get paid as much as men because they are educated the same way as

men and have the right to prove themselves. Women need to take control of their opportunities

and prove what they are capable of.

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Work cited Page

"1 in 4 People Think We'll Be Able to Time Travel Before Reaching Gender Equality in the

Workplace." ​The Cut,​ 2 Aug. 2017. ​General OneFile​,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A501529668/GPS?u=nysl_me_73_shb&sid=GPS&xid=b96fd1

67​. Accessed 28 Nov. 2018.

"How to beat workplace gender inequality." ​Asia-Pacific Banking & Finance​ [AB+F], Apr. 2016, p. 21.

General OneFile,​

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A453292517/GPS?u=nysl_me_73_shb&sid=GPS&xid=4890b

021​. Accessed 28 Nov. 2018.

Castellano, Stephanie. "Measuring the gender gap: resolving gender inequality in the workplace

starts with tracking these metrics." ​TD Magazine​, Dec. 2015, p. 14. ​General OneFile​,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A444137506/GPS?u=nysl_me_73_shb&sid=GPS&xid=b2da8

570​. Accessed 28 Nov. 2018.

"Report shows NZ's gender inequality in the workplace." ​Scoop Media,​ 28 June 2015. ​Infotrac

Newsstand,​

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A419632249/GPS?u=nysl_me_73_shb&sid=GPS&xid=13b6a

7e4​. Accessed 28 Nov. 2018.

Leonard, Kimberlee. “The Effects of Gender Discrimination in the Workplace.” ​Small Business -

Chron.com,​ Chron.com, 29 June 2018,

smallbusiness.chron.com/effects-gender-discrimination-workplace-2860.html.

Parker, Kim, and Cary Funk. “42% Of US Working Women Have Faced Gender Discrimination

on the Job.” ​Pew Research Center​, Pew Research Center, 14 Dec. 2017,
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www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/12/14/gender-discrimination-comes-in-many-forms

-for-todays-working-women/

Nolo. “14th Amendment.” ​Www.nolo.com​, Nolo, 19 June 2012,

www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/content/14th-amend-doc.html.