'We all 'do gender' in every day life'

Sociological analysis of gender inequality :

by Samangie Wettimuny

Soon after a baby is born it is marked as 'male' or 'female' and that label carries an image and a set of expectations about how he/she should act irrespective of his/her later achievements in life such as education, wealth or profession. In fact it is according to that label society interacts with the child. Whether we like it or not, we have to live up to that standard unless we want ourselves to be called deviants!

The socially created differentiation between the roles and identities for men and women is a part of society's institutions such as political systems, economy, religion, education systems etc. Gender plays a crucial role in shaping social life and it is said that gender has to be clearly differentiated, for the society to function smoothly.

Anyway most of the time it is disadvantageous for women because it is the same gender differentiation that can also be the underlying principle for inequalities between men and women.

Gender inequality

As famous sociologist Anthony Giddens et al mention in 'Introduction to Sociology' (New York, 2003), women and men perform different tasks or have different responsibilities in society, this does not mean that women are unequal to men.

However if the work and activities of women and men are valued differently, then the division of labour between them can become the basis for unequal gender relations.

So gender inequality can be defined as the difference in status, power, prestige, women and men have in groups, collectives, and societies. As mentioned earlier these inequalities are socially created and maintained.

Though division of labour between the sexes is not clear cut today as it was in the early days, still it is men who surpass women in number in all spheres of power and influence.

In all the social institutions such as work places, in the home, in education systems, in politics gender inequality exists. It may remain 'hidden', but would raise its head at the 'correct' time, where matters of 'power' and 'prestige' are concerned.

Gender based violence

Rape, female infanticide, domestic violence including physical or sexual harassment, genital mutilation are different forms of violence practised on women. As sociologists say gender based violence such as rape exists in society mainly because men are socialised to 'treat' women as sex objects, so her consent is not considered important.

Most of the times women are the silent victims of domestic violence. Even the Police tend to regard it as a private matter and not a real offence in which the perpetrator should be legally pursued.

Even now to a great extent, domestic violence is submerged and ignored. As sociologist C.W. Mills says' domestic violence is seen as a 'personal trouble of milieu' rather than a public issue of social structure.'

Women in the work place

Today there is a noticeable decrease in gender pay gaps. Also more and more women are engaged in jobs which were earlier limited for men.

Anyway when a family is concerned, in a majority of cases both husband and wife are of the view that the wife should give priority to the husband's career. In fact both of them are socialised to think in the same line. So 'she' is ready to leave her career, whenever the need arises.

Teaching in schools is undoubtedly a noble profession. But ironically it is not that quality which has made it a 'popular' job among women!

Once when I asked a school teacher What made her choose teaching as her job, she gave me a 'funny' answer (Not only funny, but irritating as well.) "My husband (then fiance) wanted me to be a teacher as it's only six hours of work. I can return home around 2.00 p.m. and can attend to house work thereafter." Most of the women want to be teachers simply for its convenience, though there are also ones who enter this field as they genuinely love teaching.

In a field like medicine the number of female VPs and surgeons are comparatively less than that of male ones. In the cases where both partners are doctors, most of the time the wife does not go beyond her MBBS position while the husband pursues his studies without any hindrance.

Out of the ten lady doctors whom I spoke to, eight have not gone beyond their initial degree while their husbands are at least one step ahead of them. As they revealed, all ten lady doctors think that they should allocate more time to their children and also they should put their husband's career before their own. Their husbands too are of the view that for their wives the job should come second to (1) Having children (2) Looking after them.

In fact as a result of gender socialisation, women too grow up with the idea that they should put their husband's career before their own. So as adults (as wives) they take this for granted.

'Glass ceiling'

Though a considerable number of women now engage in 'jobs' which were earlier limited for men, as sociologists like Giddens say their 'journey' is not so easy.

"Glass ceiling" stands as a hindrance preventing them moving upward in their career. (Glass ceiling is a promotion barrier that prevents a woman's upward mobility with in an organisation.) As sociologist Rodolfo Alvarez et al mention in his 'Women and work' (New York, 1996), women's progress in their career is blocked not because they lack required qualifications, but by not having the 'sponsorship' of well-placed, powerful senior colleagues to express their value to the respective profession.

As a result women tend to progress until mid level management positions. It is only a small number that move beyond mid-management ranks.

Though women hardly get an 'upward' push when they engage in so called 'male jobs', for men it's the otherway round. As sociologists put it "a glass escalator" pushes these men to top of their corporate ladders.

Why gender inequalities exist.

Sociologists put forward two main arguments to show why gender inequalities exist. The most simple one is - women give birth and care for children. Human infant is the most helpless out of all and it needs care and protection for a long period of time. Hence 'mothering' the child for a considerable period becomes necessary.

Because of their role as 'mothers' , women are absorbed primarily in domestic activities. So they are excluded from 'public activities' (which are normally considered more valuable as they could be measured) and have become the 'second sex' subsequently.

The argument goes on to say that it is not due to physical strength that men are dominant over women, but because prior to the development of birth control, women were at the mercy of their biological constitution. Continual child birth and caring for infants made them dependent on males for material supplies.

Secondly as Giddens (et al) say the prevailing division of labour between the sexes has led to men and women assuming unequal positions in terms of power, prestige and wealth. In early days since men earned they became providers while women remained at home giving birth to children.

Though women have achieved a tremendous progress now (particularly career wise), still they have not gained the 'strength' that is associated with the 'title'- provider. What underlies this inequitable distribution of tasks is the implicit understanding that men and women are responsible for and should operate in different domains.

Sociologists argue that expectations of this nature could strengthen conventional gender roles learned during childhood socialisation. Candace West and Don Zimmerman (in 'gender and society' - 1987) say that gender as a physical concept does not exist. But we all 'do gender' in our daily interactions with others.

Though their words may sound funny at an initial reading, when examining society closer, we can understand what they truly mean. In fact by reproducing gender roles in every day life we not only "do gender' but also strengthens its 'value' as an essential mode to distinguish between men and women.

(Source: Introduction to Sociology by Anthony Giddens et al, 2003, New York)

[email protected]

****

Sociological definitions of sex and gender

The term sex refers to physical difference of the body, and gender concerns the psychological, social and cultural differences between males and females. Sex is biologically determined and gender is the social construction of sex which is socially and culturally created.

According to this socialisation approach, the biological distinction between the sexes provides a framework that becomes culturally elaborated in society itself.

Anyway in contrast to this theorists, the sociologists who believe in the social construction of gender reject all the biological bases for gender differences. As they argue, gender identities emerge in relation to perceived sex differences in society.

In societies where ideas of masculinity are characterised by physical strength and tough attitudes will encourage men to cultivate a specific body image and a set of mannerisms.

Theoretical perspectives on gender differences

Functionalists have emphasized that gender differences and the sexual division of labour contribute to social stability and integration. But feminist approaches reject the idea that gender inequality is somehow natural.

In Radical Feminism they say that men are responsible for and benefit from the exploitation of women. The analysis of patriarchy - the systematic domination of females by males is their central concern. They see family as one of the primary sources of women's oppression in society.

They argue that men exploit women by relying on the free domestic labour they provide in the home and as a group. Men also deny women's access to positions of power and influence in society.

Liberal feminists do not see women's subordination as part of a larger social system or structure. Their concern is on many separate factors that contribute to inequalities between men and women such as sexism and discrimination against women in the work place, educational institutions, and the media.

(Source: 'Introduction to Sociology' by Anthony Giddens et al New York 2002)