Gender Inequality In Australia

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Gender equality is about equal opportunity for men and women to identify their individual potential. One must be able to benefit from their participation in society and contribute to the economic and social development of their country (Australian Government. 2009). Through multiple reviewed literature on gender inequality, the overall concept within many sociological readings was the way gender inequality socially relates to employment and careers. There are three separate themes that intersect within the written literature that will be discussed. First, gender differences in historical social roles have created stereotypes on the contemporary outlooks of the social attitude. Secondly, through beliefs and values, career pathways and choices …show more content…
The Glass Ceiling effect is a barrier to minorities in society that limits the advancement in the hierarchy of an organization (Dr. Fetner, 2010). This effect on society is an unofficial and unwritten policy in many areas of hierarchy targeting minorities, such as women. Looking at he apparent change in many areas of society that involve women striving for more education and careers, we can start to see the Glass Ceiling effect fading slightly. There are many measurable areas that females are said to be equals to men as the United Nations is providing more opportunities for women such as, seats in parliament, earned income share, administrators and managers, and professional and technical workers (Blackburn and Jarman, 2006). In todays society, as more women are filling higher level positions in the workforce, there is a decline in hierarchical gender inequality. “As women, with the help of education, continue to enter some male occupations such as engineering, and men enter some female occupations such as nursing, we may see further declines in overall segregation” (Blackburn, 2006). Any system that gives men a power advantage over women will cause status and authority to rise in importance despite structural changes in industrialization and production outside of the household (Ridgeway, 1997). Until …show more content…
People have been socially influenced through stereotypes and gendering, to the point where they are unable to make their own unbiased decisions. Gender self concept and the complexity of the belief system is an important aspect of understanding the structure of society. I feel that more research can reduce inequality in the division of labour between males and females, such as reducing mens’ pay and increasing women's pay for the same work in hierarchical occupations, or by increasing awareness of the issue to major companies and the public. Another way of increasing awareness within society is working with children, the next generation. I feel that even with many different occupational opportunities, the divergence in career preferences between genders will continue because of many separate socially contributing factors. Through all my research, I found the topic of gender inequality to be very broad and relating to many surrounding sociological aspects. More research is needed to help transform and inform society on these areas, because I feel it will serve as valuable knowledge in the everyday lives of people in todays