Discussion about the Social Norms and Recommended Solutions
An Analysis of the Gender Discrimination against Women at Work in America:
Discussion about the Social Norms and Recommended Solutions
Overview of the Gender Discrimination against Women at Work in America
Introduction to the issue “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” (Jefferson, 1776, para.2). More than 230 years ago, this familiar line of Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence became the basic tenet of the foundation of the United States of America. The monumental document recognized that all human beings, women and men, are granted with equal rights to live their own lives and pursue their own happiness. In other words, no gender discrimination of any kind shall be practiced at all times in all fields. However, 230 years later after the Declaration of Independence was enacted, gender discrimination, especially the gender discrimination against women at work, is still a heated topic in the society and awaits resolution.
Identification of the disparity Gender discrimination, also known as sexual discrimination, refers to any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of socially constructed gender roles and norms which prevents a person from enjoying full human rights (World Health Organization, 2001, para.4). Simply speaking, discrimination means treating women and men differently not because of merit but because of sex (Murphy & Graff, 2005). In the workplace, gender discrimination against women specifically indicates the practice of letting the females’ gender become an unfavorable factor when deciding whether they can get the employment or promotion opportunity or other employment benefits (Murphy & Graff, 2005). In the
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