Are Gender Differences the Result of Gender Socialization - Literature review Example

Gender Differences Name Institution Course Professor Date Introduction Gender socialization depicts a process, which people undergo as they learn how to behave in different ways based on attitudes, values, beliefs, and examples, which are present in society (Unicef, 2007). The onset of gender socialization is the time of pregnancy of a woman when people begin classifying and identifying male versus female values. Such stereotypes are encouraged by teachers, members of a family, and other social members who depict varying expectations for females and males. Occurrence of gender socialization is diverse. This includes how the interaction process of peers occurs, what are the parental attitudes, what is the impact of mass media, and contribution of schools. This diversity results in the emergence of inequality in society (Chegg Inc, 2012). According to Stephanie (2012), certain expectations of women and men exist, which are globally recognized for Western culture. Women are expected to express emotions easily, be sensitive, be beautiful, and have a nurturing trait while men are independent, should be strong, and they should not illustrate their emotions easily (Stephanie, 2012). These expectations and traits are acquired via social agents, which include media, peers, and parents. Consequently, boys and girls are divided into various categories. Such divisions result in disadvantaging women in society. Such disadvantages include physical appearance standards and workforce participation. These disadvantages have the negative impact of denying women some rights. Such rights include better pay, better services, and promotions ate workplace. Therefore, women tend to be sidelined when the issue of what leadership position they should hold in society is considered. Considering career options, it is evident that men have more career options than women. This category develops from the time when children are young and they are shown the sort of career options, which they should opt for, in the future. This occurs via role models, as well as the media. The workplace is fully monopolized by men where women are assigned jobs, which are less demanding and pay less (Turkheimer, 1998). On the same note, in case women tend to dominate work, the work value and pay for such work declines. This illustrates that women are highly disadvantaged when it comes to work and pay. Gender discrimination and harassment is very high at work place. This makes women to end up quitting their jobs as soon as they are employed. Consequently, there is a reduction of the number of women at workplace, which means that women voice is suppressed effectively. As such, women cannot have power to fight for their rights (Darwin, 1871). On the same note, women rare get promotions at workplace. This denies women an opportunity for career advancement. This occurs since the society believes that men are more productive and better managers in comparison to women. Therefore, women cannot be able to improve the performance level of an organization. Jeanty (2012) claims that gender discrimination occurs in workplace when conditions, as well as the terms of employment differ based on ones gender. Such treatment may occur in two forms, which are disparate impact and disparate treatment. Disparate impact is regarded as an indirect discrimination. This is because it occurs when an organization designs policies such that certain groups of employees can never enjoy some opportunities based on their gender differences. On the other hand, disparate treatment is regarded as a direct means of discrimination in which people have to obtain different treatments based on gender differences. As such, either of these discriminations would result in limiting individuals earnings from work, promotions, and inclusion in various activities and functions of an organization. Historically, workplace gender discrimination was focused on women (Jeanty, 2012). This resulted in the formulation of 1964 Civil Rights Act, which was aimed employees and job seekers protection from instances of unfair treatment that included nationality, race, pregnancy, sex, culture, and religion. Nevertheless, direct discrimination has being curtailed, but indirect discrimination still exists. Consequently, female workers end up being involved in job roles such as service positions and clerical works that are less paying and competitive. On the same note, pregnant women may never have an access to various fields because of their nature of pregnancy. Therefore, women are vulnerable to their positions in terms of advancement, open opportunities, and earning power. Establishment of barriers of women entry at workplace is the common gender discrimination. The discrimination is regarded as the prevalent labor market segregation, which occurs as either horizontal or vertical segregation. Horizontal segregation is present at the labor market sectors. As such, women work at education and health fields in public sector while they work as catering, retail, administrative, and clerical fields at the private sector (Jeanty, 2012). On the other hand, vertical segregation is evidenced in job roles where pay rates and advancement are the key issues of concern. This is evidenced by having so many women at lower levels of an organization where low status and minimal skills are the dominating criterion for employment. Harassment at work place is one of the discrimination, which affects an employee psychologically and emotionally. Consequently, an employee may not have the ability and power to work effectively in order to attain success (Tavris, 1992). Women are the key victims of this type of discrimination where they are harassed verbally and sexually. Moreover, women are victimized at times because of their gender. This results in the emergence of workplace trouble and personal life disruption. Despite the various forms of gender discrimination because of gender socialization, currently, women have a position in society. As such, some of equality is seen between men and women whereby women are not seen as being inferior beings to men. This has occurred because of the formulation of various bodies and policies, which are focused towards women protection. This has resulted in the emergence of various women who are focused at putting work first and placing family as the second option (Andersen, 1993). This has compelled several organizations to change and focus on equal treatment of women and men. This has seen women progress and assuming leadership roles in various organizations. Moreover, federal and state governments have formulated several policies and laws, which have ensured that women discrimination at workplace is illegal. However, despite the various moves and measures to end women discrimination, women discrimination is rampant in society. On the same note, there are several women who have failed to focus on work, but they have emphasized more on their families. This has created a notion among the male gender that women can never contribute towards attainment of success since they focus more on their families than their work requirements (Baron-Cohen, 2003). This limits their chances of securing job opportunities in various organizations. Gender socialization causes gender differences. As such, people have to focus on campaigning against gender discrimination at all times irrespective of them being targets or not being the targets. This calls for courage whereby one has to talk broadly to seniors and discuss the issue effectively with Human Resource Manager of an organization. Employment tribunals and trade unions are options, which should be considered in order to terminate employment discrimination. This is because such discrimination is a clear illustration of human rights breach (Manohar, 2012). Cross-gender relationships exist in families. Sons and mothers, and daughters and fathers evidence these relationships where they seem to interact at different levels (Crespi, n.d). Such relationships have resulted in the determination of the gender attitude, which is developed in society. However, identification with gender relationships occurs continuously with individual development. Consequently, the social interaction level of individuals determines their perception of gender. Such perception is then carried over to workplace, and other social interactions areas. This has resulted in the development of strong gender differences in society. Conclusion Despite gender expectations in society, there is no need for discrimination of women at workplace. This is because both men and women undergo equal training. As such, the level of knowledge and skills, which are acquired by both men and women is the same. Further, gender preferential treatment should be stopped as early as the age of childhood. This will contribute significantly towards eliminating instances of children developing different perceptions on both male and females. Nevertheless, there is a need for individuals to comprehend that physical development between men and women is different. Therefore, women can never be expected to have the same output as men for the more physically involving tasks. The perception of society on gender discrimination has changed. However, both direct and indirect means of gender discrimination exist whereby women are denied several chances of becoming leaders of society. This has occurred has gender socialization has intensified with new generations being exposed to the differences of women and men in society at an early age. As such, differences in the treatment of both male and female in society emerge at an early age. With the onset of identification of these differences, male gender tends to develop a negative attitude towards the female gender. This attitude is carried to all social functions including workplace. Therefore, gender differences cannot be handled effectively without addressing gender socialization. This indicates that gender socialization contributes towards the development of gender differences in society. Reference List Andersen, M. L. (1993). Thinking about women: Sociological perspectives on sex and gender, New York: Macmillan. Baron-Cohen, S. (2003). The Essential Difference. Men, Women, and the Extreme Male Brain. London: Allan Lane. Chegg Inc. (2012). Definition of Gender Socialization. Retrieved from: http://www.chegg.com/homework-help/definitions/gender-socialization-49 Crespi, I. (n.d). Socialization and Gender Roles Within the Family: A study on Adolescents and their Parents in Great Britain. Retrieved from: http://www.mariecurie.org/annals/volume3/crespi.pdf Darwin, C. (1871). The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex. John Murray: London. Jeanty, J. (2012). How Does Gender Discrimination Affect the Workplace? Retrieved from: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4897170_gender-discrimination-affect-workplace.html Manohar, U. (2012). Gender Discrimination at Workplace. Retrieved from: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/gender-discrimination-at-workplace.html Stephanie, E. (2012). The Negative Effects of Socialization on Women. Retrieved from: http://rhetoricandpopculture.com/2011/04/07/the-negative-effects-of-socialization-on-women/ Tavris, C. (1992). The mismeasure of woman. New York: Simon & Schuster. Turkheimer, E. (1998). ‘‘Heritability and biological explanation,’’ Psychological Review, 105, 782--791. Unicef. (2007). Early Gender Socialization. Retrieved from: http://www.unicef.org/earlychildhood/index_40749.html Read More