Gender Role Analysis
Gender Role Analysis
Gender Role Analysis Men and women are different. How different depends on what stereotype one chooses to believe. Although it has been argued that some stereotypes are positive, they are never beneficial. Society creates gender stereotypes and perpetuates them through societal institutions. In this paper the roles of gender will be analyzed regarding education, public policy, and the workplace. How education shapes gender, the gender norms in government, the law, policies, and the role of gender in the workplace will be discussed. Education In many cases the classroom reinforces gender stereotypes perpetuated by society. This can be found in the materials used for instruction, communication between the teacher and his or her pupils and classroom interaction between the genders and with the instructor. Institutions generally have geared textbooks toward males with discussions of famous battles, politicians, and entrepreneurs with very little emphasis on female contributions in society. According to Sapiro, before the 1970s information provided to students “focused on and valued men more than women, indicated to boys and not girls that they should consider doing great things with their lives” (Sapiro, p. 155). Communication and interaction within the classroom also reinforce the stereotypical submissive female and aggressive male roles. Boys are more vocal than their female counterparts in class and instructors give them more potential interaction by recognizing them more. According to Sadker, “teachers call on and interact with boys more than girls. Boys use creative and effective techniques to catch the teacher’s attention” (Sadker & Sadker, 1994, p. 37). A boy will raise his hand, call out answers, and ask the teacher to call on him whereas a girl will raise her hand and if ignored put her hand down. Gender roles are also shaped by segregation of the sexes in certain classes. For example many
Gender Role Analysis Men and women are different. How different depends on what stereotype one chooses to believe. Although it has been argued that some stereotypes are positive, they are never beneficial. Society creates gender stereotypes and perpetuates them through societal institutions. In this paper the roles of gender will be analyzed regarding education, public policy, and the workplace. How education shapes gender, the gender norms in government, the law, policies, and the role of gender in the workplace will be discussed. Education In many cases the classroom reinforces gender stereotypes perpetuated by society. This can be found in the materials used for instruction, communication between the teacher and his or her pupils and classroom interaction between the genders and with the instructor. Institutions generally have geared textbooks toward males with discussions of famous battles, politicians, and entrepreneurs with very little emphasis on female contributions in society. According to Sapiro, before the 1970s information provided to students “focused on and valued men more than women, indicated to boys and not girls that they should consider doing great things with their lives” (Sapiro, p. 155). Communication and interaction within the classroom also reinforce the stereotypical submissive female and aggressive male roles. Boys are more vocal than their female counterparts in class and instructors give them more potential interaction by recognizing them more. According to Sadker, “teachers call on and interact with boys more than girls. Boys use creative and effective techniques to catch the teacher’s attention” (Sadker & Sadker, 1994, p. 37). A boy will raise his hand, call out answers, and ask the teacher to call on him whereas a girl will raise her hand and if ignored put her hand down. Gender roles are also shaped by segregation of the sexes in certain classes. For example many
References: Gender Mainstreaming. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/gendermainstreaming.htm Sadker, M., & Sadker, D. (1994). Failing at Fairness: How America’s schools cheat girls.. Retrieved from http:aauw.org/learn/research/upload/hssg.pdf Sapiro, V. (2003). Women in American society: An introduction to women’s studies (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Westover, J. H. (2010, November 1). “Gendered” Perceptions: Job Satisfaction and Gender Differences in the Workplace. The International Journal of Diversity in Organisations, Communities and Nations, 10(1), 49-57. Retrieved from http://www.Diversity-Journal.com Wootton, B. H. (1997, April). Gender differences in occupational employment. Monthly Labor Review, 15. Retrieved from http://bls.gov/mlr/1997/04/art2full.pdf