Jessica Gomez
December 6, 2010
Senior Project
“Man’s world”
Abstract
Discrimination can best be defined as the process of setting out or excluding someone because of race, gender, or other differences. Initially when one thinks of discrimination the image that comes to mind is race. This injustice also affects genders, people with different sexual orientations, and the socio-economic status of individuals. One of the forms that affects me personally is discrimination against women in the workplace.
Being regarded to as “weak”, “emotional”, or “fragile” are double standards. A double standard is a set of principles that have various provisions and restrictions to a certain group of people. This is an injustice because it limits most women to a certain job. Women are forced to conform to the idea that a women is subject to menial labor such as housewives, low-level business positions, and secretarial duties. These confined restrictions make advancing or taking higher level positions difficult for women.
On the contrary, others believe the “glass ceiling” has been broken. The glass ceiling refers to a figurative ceiling that describes the inability of qualified minorities and women to advance to upper management positions. It is used to describe the sexist attitudes women are faced with at the workforce. However, I have concluded that society discriminates by design. A nation founded to men is a nation catered to men.
Definitions
Inequality: the condition of being unequal. Men and women who are treating differently based on their gender.
The glass ceiling: refers to a figurative ceiling that describes the inability of qualified minorities and women to advance to upper management positions. The glass ceiling is used to describe the sexist attitudes women are faced with at the workforce.
Sexism: is a form of discrimination based on gender. This act also affects men, intersexual, and transsexuals that struggle with gender roles or identities.
Prejudice: An unreasonable opinion or feeling towards someone beforehand without acknowledgement. Intolerance of or dislike people to a specific race, religion or gender. An irrational attitude of hostility directed against a certain group of individuals.
Methodology
For my senior project I received help and support from my mentor and teacher’s that were interested in my topic. I participated and worked on an archival project for the “Feminist Majority Foundation” this is a feminist organization that focuses on political, economic and social equality for women. This exclusive foundation provided me with issues and articles affecting women for the past two centuries that were directly related to my topic.
My topic concentrates on the double standard against women in the work place. My research includes the history and misconceptions brought upon women. I provided supporting evidence from the most publicized movement dealing with this issue. My research described the significance of Queen Elizabeth to the “women suffrage movement”. I explained the significance of Queen Elizabeth. I indicated how the “women’s suffrage movement” allowed women to work today and events such as these that helped shape our society. I inserted quotations from important women activist and mentioned a respected leader named Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
I created a survey at kwiksurvey.com that consisted of six questions that were related to my topic. 1. Is there discrimination towards women? 2. Are women still being neglected in the workforce? 3. Do you think there has been progress in women roles? 4. Do you think men contribute to the progress of women placement? 5. Do you think discrimination towards women can be eliminated? 6. Do you think mothers are less likely to obtain a job? I distributed my survey to fifty participants in a school compass. This survey was formatted in a yes or no bubble response.
After I collected my data I examined the results. I presented common beliefs and the expectations women were subjected to. I addressed issues affecting women today for example single parent mothers in search of job opportunities. I used Warren Farrell, an author of many books as an example for my counter argument. Here I discussed the assumptions formed towards women and women who went against what was considered the norm. I explained the concept of the Glass ceiling and provided data from U.S labor statistics.
Women Rights
This double standard usually comes without merit. It can be recently traced to the “women’s suffrage movement” as early as the 1800’s. In the beginning form, when a women had went against the double standard she would become a tainted object. In order to compete with the uproar of male superiority women had to gain the right to vote. They understood the right to vote would give them access to equal educational opportunities. The women power struggle has existed as early as the beginning of life found in the biblical story of genesis.
The era of Queen Elizabeth of England was particularly significant because she was an icon during a time where women were looked down upon. She ruled a country effectively for 45 years which caused an uprising in women rights around the world. For her to remain in control and strong she chose not to marry. She believed marriage would distract her from her duties. On the other hand, her supporters counseled that her only hope was for her to marry quickly and lean on her husband for support. Elizabeth was a survivor of scandal and danger. But, Elizabeth had other ideas. She ran her country for almost half a century. She demonstrated to the world that a woman is certainly capable of being a powerful and a dominant figure.
An additional leader was Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the first women rights convention organizer. Stanton stated “Because women and men are the complement of one another, we need women’s thought in national affairs to make a stable government”. This indicates that a government of men and women is better than a government ran by men alone. This also advocates equality in the democratic system.
Women received their break when the nineteenth amendment was ratified. This act granted women the right to vote. Unfortunately for men, the turn of the century allowed women to teach in facilities and earn a living. During this era a superfluous amount of women were actively involved in women’s clubs and social reform. Women began to take new roles and expand their horizons. Yet living and working conditions were still unfair and complicated. Although the women employment drastically increased they were denied high level positions and received significantly lower incomes compared to men.
Emily Pegues, a women activist states “Women were not expected to harbor higher aspirations other than acquisition of a husband, a family, and a home” imprinting a clear image of the role women were acceded to. This shows the limited range of a potentially smart productive lady. By the early nineteen century both men and women participated in reform movements that questioned women neglect. They were called suffragists. The “women’s suffrage movement” is known as the event that gave women their break. Here the convention intentionally adopted the “declaration of principles” that stated “we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal…” attempting to gain women rights state by state in all 50 states. The era never passed, today there are still countries were women are not allowed to vote. This shows the occurring power imbalance.
Single parent mothers
Today in the 21st century with the national economic depression it has become a necessity for women to work. According to the “custodial mothers and fathers and their child support; 2007 released by the U.S Census Bureau in 2009;” approximately 84 percent of custodial parents are mothers leading the remaining 16 percent of custodial parents to be fathers. An exceptional factor such as being a single parent inflicts concern because of the continuation of double standard towards women in work place. These statistics show that women continue to be victims of discrimination. According to the “Bureau of Labor Statistics” women working more than 60 hours per week earn 78.3 percent of what men earn in the same category”. Warren Farrell, an author of many books attempts to justify to why women tend to earn less than men. He states “ men receive higher wages because they accept riskier jobs due to the idea that women like to keep a balance between their house hold and career where as men are strictly focused on their careers”. However, there are various provisions and misconceptions about women and in today’s society that are not necessarily true. What about those women who are not interested in what is considered the norm? By norm, I mean women not living up to the expected standard forced upon women. For example, women who decide not to get married or have children, women who are firmly focused on their careers. It is wrong and unfair for those women to be subjected to low placement jobs because premeditated predictions or misconceptions of them being weak. Despite the fact that women continue to be discriminated against, there has been immense progress in women roles. A major event that broke many boundaries was when the first women, Hillary Clinton ran for president in 2008. This presidency created a lot of controversy. Triggered questions such as, can a woman run the United States of America? We have yet to find out.
Inequality
The chauvinistic ideals about women still exist today and were founded by stereotypes that adults from past generations have not persevered through. It has been proven for men to receive higher earnings than women that work in the same position. In the “wall street” journal presents information about the exact meaning of the glass ceiling. According to authors of the wall street journal the word “ceiling” implies that women are blocked from advancing in professions. The glass ceiling is a ceiling based on attitudinal or organized bias in the workforce that prevents minorities and women from advancing to leadership position. The glass ceiling suggests that men and women are just as capable. Additionally, the people in power which are majority men refuse to provide women with quality or high level jobs. The bias toward women also affects their income and job benefits. Discriminating because of gender is ignorant, and ignorance is not bliss. A particular gender does not have any magical talents than another. Therefore, it is pathetic to concentrate on the bases of sex. Employment should be determined by those who are skilled or talented not by those who are male or female.
Conclusion
In attempts to disguise what is evident, discrimination, experts use excuses such as lack of experience and skills when in fact women are overlooked because of the double standard and the fact that we are living in a “Mans World”. I anticipate the day when we live in a nation where “all men and women are created equal” because integration is key to a successful environment. I anticipate the day when no one views themselves as males or females but as individuals. I anticipate the day when no men or women are hired under false pretenses but by the quality of their work or the content of their paper.
Survey
* 1. Is there discrimination towards women?
 Yes |
 No |
* 2.
Are women still being neglected in the workforce?
 Yes |
 No |
3. do you think there has been progress in women roles?
 Yes |
 No |
* 4. Do you think men contribute in the progress in women placement?
 Yes |
 No |
* 5. Do you think discrimination towards women can be eliminated?
 Yes |
 No |
6. Do you think mothers are less likely to obtain a job?
 Yes |
 No |
Appendix
In my survey titled views on women discrimination in the workforce 63 percent of women believed there is occurring bias toward female employees. This proves my predictions were correct. Regardless of a woman’s qualification they are instantly judged by common beliefs traced from historic times. Many men believe women should not have any other obligations other than those of a housewife. For those unfamiliar with the term “house wife” it refers to a married women who manages her own household. In question number one “Is there discrimination towards women in the workforce?” 55percent of people voted yes meaning a little over half of participates potentially agree with my topic. In question two “Do you believe women are still being neglected in the workforce?” 80 percent of people stated no. This shows that men and women are receiving the same opportunities. In question number three “Do you think there has been progress in women roles today?” a high number of 92 percent said yes. This indicates over the years women placement has expanded.
In the forth question “Do you think men contribute in the progress of women?” 88 percent of participates answered yes meaning men hold major power in the roles of women. In question fifth question “Do you think gender discrimination can be eliminated?” 42 percent of people answered no. This percentage suggests that individuals that continue to have strong opinions regarding women duties. In the sixth question “Do you think mothers are less likely to receive a job?” 60 percent of participants answered yes. This indicates women that have mother like responsibilities and are preferred at home.
Work Cited
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Pegues, Emily. ""Great Expectations": The Impact of Education on Women's Roles in Society." About Sweet Briar College | Sweet Briar College. Web. 07 Dec. 2010. <http://www.dean.sbc.edu/pegues.html>.
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