Gender Essay

Gender is an important element of society to designate gender roles, but it is not considered a good thing to segregate roles of people on the basis of gender. The societies tend to stamp a picture of gender roles in the people’s mind that how each gender should conduct itself in a society. The major gender type is split between men and women. The society has developed many gender roles, which have been attributed to different genders, and it has been assumed that certain roles are associated with certain gender types. There are many ideas, which have been developed on the basis that few acts and tasks should be done by men and then few other accts should only be done by women. The bad thing about these gender roles is that they develop stereotypes for the men and women, which sometimes halts the progression of a personality because they are associated with certain designated roles, whereas they want to grow as individuals other than those designated roles. Gender is good to just differentiate between males and females, other than that gender should not be used as a tool of discrimination.

It is also a fact that gender relations are also based on these gender roles. The gender portrayal has been ingrained into the people’s minds. There are many negative outcomes of the designated idea of gender roles and differences such as gender inequality. The genders are separated on the basis of certain characteristics and these assigned characteristics are the ones, which drive forward to the concept of gender inequality. This difference is good enough to be described on biological basis, but sad part of the matter is that society has turned this biological difference into societal one, which has really deprived people of different genders from their basic rights. Such gender differences lead to the concept of discrimination that people face discrimination on the basis of their gender. The culture of different societies including United States has developed certain rules and ideas, which are injected in the culture of the society and these cultural attributes, are playing their part in gender inequality. We have learned so much useful information regarding gender, gender roles and differences, which has allowed us to separate between these concepts, and understand that what the reasons behind these particular concepts are. The class material and discussions have allowed us to dig deep into this topic and develop a clear idea about its associated concepts (LISWOOD 2018)

It has been mentioned earlier that gender roles and perceptions developed by the society are turning into the issue of gender inequality, which is present all over the world. It has been observed that gender roles and relations have been developing various issues in United States. The gender inequality has mainly affected the women in so many ways around the world as well as in United States. The stats have been horrific in this regard. The data has shown that 22% employed women in United States have faced some sort of sexual harassment at work. A survey was conducted in 2017, which revealed this result. The other important fact revealed in the survey was about men, as 7% men also reported that they have also been victim of sexual harassment. The survey polls conducted by Marist Poll and PBS NewsHour in 2015 have revealed that sexual harassment at work has been reported by 35% women. The other important fact was about some kind of discrimination with women at work. The research survey conducted by Pew Research Center revealed that 42% women in United States have said that they have been victim of gender discrimination during their employment. The eight gender discrimination aspects were asked from the participants of the survey. The 22% men also revealed in the survey that they have also face some kind of gender discrimination during their employment (GRAMLICH 2017)

The United States have also been one of the societies, where women have struggled for their rights, and one big example is the Presidency of United States. The American people have never selected a woman president in the White House ever. It clearly shows that how clear and strong discrimination and prejudice is there about women that they are not good enough and capable to handle the Presidency of United States. It is a reasonable question to answer that why United States has never chosen a female President ever in its history. The last Presidential elections in United States were ever so closer to select the country’s first ever woman President, as Hillary Clinton was running for the seat. The women empowerment in political perspective have also been an issue for United States because as per ranking issues by World Economic Forum, the country was ranked at number 73 out of total countries numbered at 143. The other important fact is that United States is slowly going down in this list rather improving their number for women empowerment in politics. This issue is also very much highlighted by the women representation at Senate and House seats, which is about 20% of the total seats. This difference between the number of seats between men and women is huge, and it is throwing light on the issue of gender inequality and discrimination ( Liswood 2016). The questions have been raised on the ability and stamina of the women to handle the President Office of the super power country, which is not appropriate way to deal with the issue of women empowerment. The women have proved at many fronts that they can do the jobs, which men are doing so they should at least be given a valid chance to prove their skills and abilities (Zahidi 2016)

We also learned so many other facts regarding United States that how gender roles and relations have been managed over the years. The situation was never welcoming ever, and it has not improved at a level, which has been expected. In today’s modern society, where world society has developed so many great ideas and things, but gender inequality and women empowerment is still a considerable issue in so many ways. The majority of women in United States believe that country has not improved as per expectations in terms of providing equal rights to women as compared with men. The results of a survey revealed that 57% women believed that U.S as a country has not achieved much over the years in providing equal rights to its women. It is a fact that online world and social media has become an important part of the society and its role is increasing in the lives of people. So, it is important to see that how women feel about their presence in the online world. Another survey was conducted by Pew Research Center in United States, and it asked women about harassment in online space and it was found that majority of women have a strong view that it is one of the major problems they face in everyday routine. The online harassment has become somewhat common for the female gender. The survey revealed that 1 out of 5 women under the age of thirty has revealed that they have faced online harassment in one way or the other, which shows that gender inequality and discrimination is playing its part in online world as well, where largely the women are being harassed by men (GRAMLICH 2017)

Looking at the above information as well as information discussed in class, there is serious questions to answer whether U.S men and women will ever become equal in all aspects of life? After looking at current stats, information and situation, the answer could be that it looks far from happening that men and women will get an equal status in the American society ever. It has been observed that social norms needed to be changed in so many ways for different genders, where stereotypes as well as set perceptions about men and women should be changed, and people are taken as individuals rather being taken as men and women with designated characteristics. To learn from other examples is important how other countries are trying to make men and women equal in all spheres of life. The biggest example in this regard comes from Sweden. The country has taken so many valid steps, which have not yet achieved complete equality in gender terms, but the strategy adopted by Sweden is very much on the right track to achieve this feat. The American society as well as authorities has to show the same level of commitment, where men and women should be considered equal morally, legally as well as socially. This is the only way forward for the American society ( Carmon 2018) 

It can be concluded in the end that information, data and knowledge about an issue is the most important things to have, if any improvement is aimed in the future. So, it is important for the global as well as American society that they learn from previous mistakes, and come up with new laws and moral standards, which promote gender equality and negate gender discrimination in every aspect of life. America has been going down in this regard as compared to various other nations, so serious steps are needed. The class material, discussion as well as other data about gender and gender inequality is critical to find appropriate solutions for the issue.

References of gender science

Carmon, Irin. 2018. Can American Men and Women Ever Really Be Equal? Accessed May 6, 2019. http://time.com/longform/gender-equality-america/.

Liswood, Laura. 2016. Why didn't the United States elect a female president? Accessed May 6, 2019. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/11/can-america-elect-a-woman-president/.

GRAMLICH, JOHN . 2017. 10 things we learned about gender issues in the U.S. in 2017. Accessed May 6, 2019. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/12/28/10-things-we-learned-about-gender-issues-in-the-u-s-in-2017/.

LISWOOD, LAURA. 2018. To hope or doubt? The state of women’s progress in the world. Accessed May 6, 2019. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/12/women-progress-world-gender-gap-2018/.

Zahidi, Saadia . 2016. America is falling behind other countries in gender equality. The next president must fix that. Accessed May 6, 2019. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/10/global-gender-gap-2016-usa-saadia-zahidi/.