Gender Discrimination in the Work Place
Is it fair that men make more money than women do, even though they both have the same qualifications? Is it fair that women are less likely than men to get promoted are? Is it fair that women start at lower positions in the work place than men do? Discrimination in the work place is hindering gender relations in today?s modern society. Women are getting fed up with always being treated unfairly by the employers. They feel that employers should base their decision on who can do the better job, not who is the male and who is the female.
Hiring, promotion, and salaries are the three main factors that separate the men from the women in the work place. In hiring, men are much more likely to get a job than women are. Although in the last 10 to 15 years, women have gradually closed the gaps. In 1974, 14 to 25% of women earned bachelor degrees in computer and mathematical science. While in 1989, the women that earned the same degrees were 33 to 37% of the graduates. (Frenkel, 1990) Now, because the percentage of bachelor degrees has increased during that period, you would think that the hiring increase would be the same. Well, the hiring of women has only increased about 5%. So, are employers really looking for who gets hired with what degree or is it irrelevant? I feel that for the most part, employers do look at the accomplishments of a future employee, regardless of gender. In the past, that might have been different, but today, an employer would hire a more highly skilled women worker, than an average male worker. I think employers have a sort of obligation to hire the women. The companies sometimes feel that if they
Pg. 2
don?t hire enough women, a discrimination suit could arise and that would hurt not only the company financially, but their reputation as well.
In almost every industry, women occupy a very small proportion of the higher-level positions. For example, a 1988 study found that only three CEO?s among the Fortune 1000 were women, and only 1.7% of the COO?s, CFO?s and executive VPs were women (White, 1992). In a 1993 study of Stanford MBA?s, graduates from the class of 1982 were tracked over time. It was found that 71% of the men are currently in the top four rungs of management, whereas only 34% of women had reached those positions (Smith and Mitchell, 1993). In what I consider a very interesting faction, Business Week did a report in 1987 in which they tracked 100 women executives who were on the fast track from as far back as 1976. They found that none of those 100 women had made it to the top position in a public corporation unless they started the business or inherited the position (White, 1992). I feel that is the same in the academic world as well. I have seen many more male professors here at SUNY Brockport, than female professors. As shown earlier, the problem is not that larger proportions of trained women are not available. Women are not represented at the highest ranks of companies and in the academics because, for some reason, their rate of progression is halted somewhere along the way to the top. I think the progression might have been stopped starting in the early nineties. High-ranking men were probably feeling insecure about the whole ?women in power? movement. So, they did whatever they could do stop the women before they get to powerful.
Pg.3
The salary picture for women is even more unjust than that for promotion. Women regularly make less money than men do in almost every industry, even when they first start their jobs. An American Demographics study found that women working full time with two or fewer years of experience earn 72% less than men with the same experience (Schwartz, 1988). Things haven?t always been like this, though. In 1955, women earned more of a percentage of men’s salaries than they did in 1987, 63.9 cents vs. 63.7 cents (Mahar, 1993). Part of the reason for the wage gap is that women don’t get promoted as quickly as men. However, a gap still appears between the two. In some cases, it depends on the job. For example, among ” programming managers,” women made 98% of men’s salaries, but among IS directors or managers, women made 82% of men’s salaries. Another explanation for the increasing wage gap are that women sometimes choose professions that pay less and professions that you need less experience than men of the same age, because they take time off to raise children. Another researcher analyzed the credentials of 194 corporate managers randomly chosen from 800 people who took a leadership course. He found that “if women were men with the same credentials, they would earn about 18 percent more”. (Mahar, 1990). These figures can only be explained by discrimination. Why should a woman get less money for a job that she is equally or more qualified for? It just doesn?t seem fair. This question goes back to what was stated earlier in that men are feeling insecure and are afraid of how powerful women might become. And in most cases, men are the ones in charge and men are the ones who make the big decisions in a corporation and decide who and who doesn?t get hired.
Pg. 4
To answer my questions in the introduction of this paper, the answers are no, it is not fair that men make more money than women, even with the same qualifications, no, it isn?t fair that a man should get promoted first over a woman, and no, it is not fair that women start at a lower position than a man. It isn?t right that women are based on their physical, emotional, and social structures, rather than their overall ability to get the job done.
So, when will women be treated as equals to men in the work place? I do not foresee a change happening in the near future. Women are slowly being treated more as equals to men but the gap will never narrow to complete equality. Women should, not only be treated as equal in the work place, but also in everything else as well. Whether it is a computer scientist, an athlete, or a president of the United States, women should be treated as equal to men. Gender discrimination has gone too far and we, as a society, have to draw the line sometime. We can?t change the past issues, but we can certainly change the future.
1. Frenkel, Karen. “Women and Computing,” Communications of the ACM, November 1990, pp. 35-46.
2. Mahar, Maggie, “The Truth About Women’s Pay,” Working Women Magazine, April 1993, pp. 52-55, 100-103.
3. Schwartz, Joe, “Closing the Gap,” American Demographics, January 1988, pp. 10, 56.
4. Smith, Rebecca and James Mitchell, “A Stanford MBA Does Not Assure Equal Pay,” San Jose Mercury News, spring 1993
5. White, Jane. ?A Few Good Women: Breaking the Barriers to Top Management.? Prentice-Hall, 1992.
Другие работы по теме:
Importance Of Diversity Training Essay Research Paper
Diversity training has become a necessity in businesses today. Diversity training is necessary because of people s differences in our work force. Some of these differences are race, gender, culture, age, and disabilities. Because our organization is so diverse, this program will help educate, sensitize and prepare people to get along in our workplace.
Trifles Essay Research Paper Are we Living
Trifles Essay, Research Paper Are we Living in a Chauvinist Male Society? Gender roles are attitudes that a society links to each sex. They are basically prejudicial descriptions of who men and women are. In today?s society, men and women are divided into two stereotypical gender-roles; the feminine code and the masculine code.
Gender Selection Essay Research Paper The Future
Gender Selection Essay, Research Paper The Future is here The idea of being able to choose the gender of a child has not always been around. This controversy did not come about until recently because now we have the technology to perform this act of sex determination. Some say that we should be able to choose the gender of our children.
Communication Essay Research Paper Eye Safety at
Communication Essay, Research Paper Eye Safety at Work Recently the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has undertaken new initiatives to diminish eye injuries at work.. OSHA has plans to set in motion a nationwide information campaign to decrease the over 1,000 eye injuries that occur in American workplace each year.
Importance Of Education Essay Research Paper When
Importance Of Education Essay, Research Paper When discussing the issue of stressing the importance of mathematics, science, and communication in the workplace, we must first talk about education. Education begins at birth with the initiation of the young into the knowledge, skills and values of their society.
Dream World Essay Research Paper Dream WorldIn
Dream World Essay, Research Paper Dream WorldIn the nineties, the number one advertisement that sells products is sex. Face it, sex sells. Consumers buy the products that catch their eye and having sex as an advertisement source, surely helps. MTV and gender ads are linked in a big way. In gender ads such as “Bongo jeans” and “Revlon”, beautiful models are featured and that makes people watch the commercial.
The Difference Between Men
& Women Essay, Research Paper Having been a member of the female gender for almost twenty years, I?ve come to realize the differences between men and women are like night and day.
Glass Ceiling Summary Essay Research Paper Utilitarianism
Glass Ceiling Summary Essay, Research Paper Utilitarianism favors unequal treatment in the work place.CONTROLLING IDEA: Big corporations should be forced into applying affirmative action to equal out the male/female ratio in management positions.
Gender Roles Essay Research Paper A View
Gender Roles Essay, Research Paper A View on Gender Roles While having read “The Yellow Wallpaper”, by Gillman, I have realized that much is to be said about early roles of women and how psychology tied into them. The hardships of the lives of women were not dwelled upon as if it were a man’s life. Most if not all of the females of this era had specific gender roles that were followed.
Integrity In The Work Place Essay Research
Paper Integrity In The Workplace Integrity directly relates to the workplace and keeping one’s word. It is important to have integrity in the workplace because without it, there would be little reason for an employer to keep you. Employment is given with the trust that the person being hired will keep their end of the bargain by completing the necessary work they’ve been hired for.
Women Role In Society Essay Research Paper
How American culture defines a female or (male) What is the woman’s role in society? Men and women are by no means equal. There are always going to be certain attributes of each gender that the other gender cannot duplicate. This does mean that the one is better than the other. Even though we are seeing more and more women succeeding in life than men, American culture still defines a women as unequal.
American Culture And Gender Vs. Racial Differences
Essay, Research Paper American Culture and Gender vs. Racial Differences With all of the social and economic gains made by women and ethnic groups through the past 30 years, it is amazing how America still focuses on both gender and racial differences. It doesn’t matter if you are African American, Caucasion, Asian or whatever.
Setting Priorities Essay Research Paper Setting PrioritiesSetting
Setting Priorities Essay, Research Paper Setting Priorities Setting priorities and managing time effectively is basic to managing individual and organizational performance. The pressure to find innovative ways to achieve goals, pay attention to the competition, respond quickly to customer needs and enjoy life outside of work is even more intense, in today’s less-structured, information-driven workplace.
Gender Role Reversal Essay Research Paper Throughout
Gender Role Reversal Essay, Research Paper Throughout one’s life each of us face new obstacles due to the progression of the life cycle. Many of these so-called obstacles we encounter are from the many role demands that each one of us has to fulfill. As we get older our lives take on new roles, such as being a: wife, parent, school teacher, etc.
Human Sexuality Essay Research Paper Explain the
Human Sexuality Essay, Research Paper Explain the components of Human Sexuality. In your explanation include the definition of Gender we constructed in class. The components of Human Sexuality differ, of course, with every individual. With the different components of sexual behavior, attitudes and values related to sexuality, intimacy, gender, gender of assignment and reassignment, gender identity, gender role, gender orientation, social orientation, erotic orientation, and affectional orientation determines our sexual identity.
Jealousy In Gender Essay Research Paper The
Jealousy In Gender Essay, Research Paper The Influence of Jealousy in Men and Women in response to Infidelity Jealousy can be defined as ‘ a fear and rage reaction fitted to protect, maintain, and
Sexual Harrasment Essay Research Paper Sexual HarassmentSexual
Sexual Harrasment Essay, Research Paper Sexual Harassment Sexual harassment is a serious problem in the workplace. It primarily victimizes women who are harassed by men, but sexual harassment can be directed at men and can also be same-sex harassment. Sexual harassment demeans the victim, can negatively impact performance, and can limit progression in a career path.
Workforce Diversity Essay Research Paper IndtroductionWorkplace diversity
Workforce Diversity Essay, Research Paper Indtroduction Workplace diversity is a worldwide concept that continues to evolve as more industries move into the global market. Most people try and hold the belief that all people are of equal stature and deserve all of the same opportunities invariant of their race, age, gender, disability, religion or sexual preference.
Jane Eyre Essay Research Paper The ambiguity
Jane Eyre Essay, Research Paper The ambiguity of Jane Eyre with respect to gender and class actually makes it more interesting to read. It struggles with sensitive subjects, and sometimes it fails to defy societal convention. But its failures are often as interesting as its successes. It doesn’t pretend to offer an ultimate truth of personal freedom.
Gender Differences Essay Research Paper A study
Gender Differences Essay, Research Paper A study was conducted at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia, during Fall Semester, 1998, to determine students perceptions of gender differences in several areas of nonverbal communication. Specifically, the areas of eye contact, gestures, smiles, personal space, touch, and interpretation of nonverbal cues were examined.
Gender Projects Essay Research Paper Gender biases
Gender Projects Essay, Research Paper Gender biases are prevalent in today s scientific world, although they are not always seen by society. To increase awareness on gender biases, Suzanne Kessler and Emily Martin write two independent articles on how gender stereotypes permeate the scientific community.
Gender Diversity Essay Research Paper Gender DiversityIt
Gender Diversity Essay, Research Paper Gender Diversity It’s not just a man’s world anymore. Gender diversity plays a major role in who runs our society. The roles of men and women vary greatly in the home and in the workplace. Although the roles of women in the business world have developed greatly, our society still has a long way to go before men and women will be considered equal in the workforce.
Gender 2 Essay Research Paper GENDER
Gender 2 Essay, Research Paper GENDER Gender can be defined as the sex-role that a person takes on according to guidelines or standards instilled in us by society. One can be a male or female biologically, but still be perceived as the opposite sex due to the way one may think or present him self or her self. Whether or not we are born with certain biological traits different in male versus female is the nature versus nurture question that has been around for years.
Dealing With Sexual Harassment In The Worrkplace
Essay, Research Paper Dealing with Sexual Harassment in the Workplace As a manager what will you do to curtail Sexual Harassment in your area? What obstacles will you encounter? What are the ramifications for not handling Sexual Harassment correctly?
Discrimination In The Work Pla Essay Research
Paper Discrimination in the Work Place Discrimination can be expressed in many different ways, which no matter what can be very hurtful to a person. Discrimination itself means making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit (definition 2).
Freud Essay Research Paper Freud
Freud Essay, Research Paper Freud’s Personality Theory The development of gender roles in deifferent forms of feminsm gives us a revealing overview of Freud’s personality theory. It is relatively
Drug Testing In The Workplace 2 Essay
, Research Paper Drug Testing in the Workplace When the question of drug testing in the workplace arises, many problems tend to come along with it. For employers, the solution is simple; drug tests are mandatory for employment. When it comes to employees, however the response might be more along the lines of It s none of your business or That s a violation of my rights .
Society Genders Evaluation Essay Research Paper Nadine
Society Genders (Evaluation) Essay, Research Paper Nadine 04/02/01 ENG. 1B Mrs. Garcia TH 6-9pm Society Genders What gender are you? A female or a male, what ever the classification may be, how do you then distinguish your gender role in society, and what factors help you come to a conclusion of your representation.
Gender Stereotype Essay Research Paper According to
Gender Stereotype Essay, Research Paper According to the writers in chapter, “Gender Stereotyping And the Media”, gender stereotypes are harmful to men and women. Gender stereotypes set impossible standards for men and women that lead to unhappiness, loneliness and possibly violence towards themselves.
Effective Business Communication Essay Research Paper Effective
Effective Business Communication Essay, Research Paper Effective business communication is an essential component in today’s commerce. Without it, there can be little if any cohesion among employees, management and consumers. In order to establish this basis of communication within the workplace, employers have to abandon their supervisory egos in exchange for an atmosphere of openness, encouragement and teamwork.
Annotation Of Psych Article Essay Research Paper
Emily W. Goldfrank Assignment 3-3 11/14/00 Annotations Wegner & Crano, 1975 Subjects consisted of 144 students, equally divided with respect to race and gender, from a large Midwestern university. Experimenters consisted of 12 college students, also equally divided with respect to race and gender. Each experimenter tested 3 of each race-gender combination.
Genders Essay Research Paper The early childhood
Genders Essay, Research Paper The early childhood socialization plays a major role in a person’s life. Socialization is best described as “a process by which a society’s values and norms, including those pertaining to gender is taught and learned”. This is perhaps the first thing that a child goes thought.