Okin's Arguments Against Gender Discrimination

In chapter 8 of Okin’s piece, she argues against gender discrimination in families and the workforce. In her piece, she introduces the idea that economic support and nurturing must equally derive from both parents. The elimination of gender roles within the work force and family promotes a sense of justice between the sexes and establishes equality. Okin strongly believes that a mother should not be dependent on her husband while taking care of their children. The distribution of work and caretaking should be even amongst both parties. This shared responsibility diminishes the belief that women are nurturers and men are bread-makers. If society abandoned current social norms, work and family life would improve significantly since men and women
would be portrayed in an enhanced humanist perspective. Although Okin’s standpoint is reasonable and has the potential to resolve numerous problems concerning discrimination between genders, economics and the availability of education conflict with her ideas. Okin assumes that all women are deemed as inferior, have a chance to have a stable job, and the will to raise a family. Some women may want to contribute financially to their family, but the lack of education is a major roadblock for her. In contrast, some women are educated, want to be their own bread-maker, and not want a family at all. Another weakness in Okin’s argument is that families who are already in poverty will struggle to escape this discrimination since men are already prone to receiving full-time jobs compared to women, inevitably leaving the mother with a tedious part-time job and the responsibility of looking after the children.