Gender As A Means Of Stratification Essay

Studies of the notion “gender stratification” have started recently and are based upon the traditional sociologic assumptions about oppression of women in society. Class analysis contributed to understanding of this process, however, class structure and women oppression are still different notions. Before feminists used to relate the studies of class and position of women in society to the status of their husbands. The modern approach is different, as classes are viewed separately from the position of women. Gender segregation has serious impact upon formation of society and relations between its members in various spheres, including economics, private life, culture and politics.

In the sphere of economics it is certainly necessary to underline the occupational segregation, as there is a number of obstacles for women in development of their professional growth. The feminists’ theories struggled for a long time for equal rights of women, stating that dual- earning families would be the most successful. It turned out, however, that they were mistaken, and in reality there are several models, which are more acceptable to women. Some of them would prefer to work full time, in the same way like their husbands; other women prefer to remain home-centered, depending financially upon their husbands; finally the most widespread group consists of women, who become second earners, without building careers. In spite of these changes, there is a gender stratification, which makes men more important, than women in terms of earning money. This fact allows men to have more power in society and helps them to reach more professional goals, as they earn more money, than their female colleagues even in case of the same educational basis. The levels of gender stratification are various in different countries, still even in the most modern and developed countries it is still present and able to have overall impact upon development of these societies. The situation is worsened not only by the fact of lower salaries for females, but also by the fact that they are still to bear more responsibilities about housework, are more involved into taking care of the children even in the families, where both spouses work full time. Certainly these factors make women concentrate their attention not purely upon their careers, thus loosing a lot of their potential possibilities for further development. This results in deepening of gender stratification in both economic and social sphere of any country. Having the status of earners and being more appreciated and valued, men certainly have all the chances to dominate over their wives thanks to the power and control they gain; they are able to control their financial situation, they have more rights to take the important decisions or even have the final decisive word; finally they have the control over ideology, which is the top of inequality in gender relations.

Cultural restrictions also contribute to development of gender segregation, especially the assumptions, which are based upon such strong arguments as stating that women should occupy their “correct” place in the society. Often these assumptions are supported by the ideas that women are not able to rule due to their biological nature and character, they are not able to bear big responsibilities, which for example appear, as soon as an individual starts to occupy a political post. Women are traditionally acknowledged to have not enough rationality and moral strength to take important political decisions and so on.

Overall, in spite of serious changes, which took place and continue to happen in most countries all over the world, when the position of women in society is reconsidered, still gender segregation is present in various forms and to various extents in all countries, having its impact upon political , social and economic spheres.

 

References:

Crompton, R., Mann, M.  (1996) Gender and Stratification. Polity Press, Cambridge.

Hakim, C. (2004). Key Issues in Women’s Work: Female Diversity and the Polarization of Women’s Employment. Glasshouse Press, London.

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
Available at:

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]
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