Gender Discrimination In The United States

Discrimination based on gender is an extremely common civil rights violation here in the United States, and it can manifest itself in many ways. It is often seen in the work place, where women are often payed less for the same jobs as men. Gender discrimination can also manifest itself through pregnancy discrimination and even sexual assault. Things like unwelcome sexual advances, dismissal due to pregnancy, and other forms of harassment found both in and out of the workplace are an unfortunate reality that many women here in the United States and throughout the world suffer from.
In this country, discrimination was at one point entirely universal. Women were prohibited from voting and were considered the property of their husbands. Also,
their opportunities for careers and education were severely inhibited. Due to this, the belief that a woman’s place was in the home has continued to persist in American culture even to this day. The first major efforts to turn this around began at around the 1800’s. During these times, many coeducational studies were offered at universities for the first time. On July 19th, 1848, the very first women’s rights convention was held at Seneca Falls, which put the Women’s Rights Movement into motion. Although the movement lost momentum after the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, the movement began again as more and more women began entering the workforce. Due to the pervading negativity surrounding women defying the roles placed on them, people began turning to the government for help. In response, Congress passed both the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which prohibits employers from discriminating against their employees on the ground of sex with respect to the terms of compensation, and the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bans discrimination in employment on the basis of sex, among other grounds. This provides both sexes guaranteed protection from gender discrimination in the workplace. This movement also inspired Title IX in the Education Amendments, which made sex discrimination in educational programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance illegal. Although these decisions seemingly outlawed discrimination in the workplace and schools, many women today are still victim to these unmoral actions. This movement, however, has also brought about people who want to completely destroy the differences that men and women have, which can actually have negative effects.
A moral issue found in this problem is that when someone treats a woman with disrespect due to their gender, they are disrespecting the very core of Christian morality.
The most fundamental principle established by the Catholic Church in our moral life is the reality that every human being bears the dignity of being created in the image and likeness of God. Sexual assault is also viewed negatively in Church morality, because it greatly disrespects the sanctity of sexuality and marriage. This is because the Catholic Church teaches us that the purpose of sex and marriage is to procreate as God has commanded us to do, and is therefore, sacred. Some of the actions that have spawned from this movement have called for the complete abandonment of gender roles as a whole, which as Pope Francis teaches us, is not the correct path to take. Pope Francis calls us to respect the beauty and sacredness of the family, and to acknowledge and respect the differences between man and woman. As a whole, the ones who are in the wrong are both the ones who disrespect women, and therefore their sanctity as being made in the image of God, and those who call for a complete abandonment of what makes man and woman unique and important, because this goes against the sanctity of the family and marriage.
A possible solution to the issue of gender inequality would be to give value and to acknowledge the differences between men and women and to respect them and view them as equally important. To combat abuse, we must acknowledge the sanctity of human sexuality and marriage. We must also make against and educate people who go against these values, as they are made to benefit and protect
everyone.
I believe that taking on these actions will not negatively affect the people who are morally responsible, however it will make them aware that what they are doing is wrong and that it goes against who we are as humans, regardless of whether or not you believe in God. I also believe that it wouldn’t be a huge burden on these people, because being a good person and treating everyone with respect is not a daunting task, in fact it is very simple, and it is something that everyone is called to do.