Preview

Inequality and Its Effects in the Workplace

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2168 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Inequality and Its Effects in the Workplace
Inequality and its Effects in the Workplace
Ashford University
Contemporary Social Problems and the Workplace – SOC 402
July 19, 2010 Inequality and its Effects in the Workplace
Gender, ethnicity, and race inequalities and the issues surrounding them in the workplace have been on the forefront of society’s mind for decades. The problem of inequality in the workplace has become one of the most important and vital issues in our society today. In order to understand fully the reasons for these inequalities, one must try to understand the factors that cause gender, ethnicity, and racial issues within the workplace, yet in this case, we will tend to focus mostly towards gender inequality in the workplace. One typically thinks locally in these situations, and Americans have fought hard for equality, yet over half of illiterate people throughout the world are females.
Gender inequality is an issue that has been shaped by men from generations to generations. Each man carrying down his own ideologies mixed in with the previous generation’s to create this mold that women are expected to conform and fit into. In America, women have fought long and hard to have many of the same rights as men. Education, the right to vote, and career status are just a few examples of some of the many important things these women fought for. In other countries, women are not as fortunate to have such a voice to be heard, and thus their fight ends before it begins.
On April 11, 1996, President Bill Clinton proclaimed “National Pay Inequality Awareness Day”. The goal of the government was to change and eliminate discrimination in the workplace in 1972 when the Equal Employment Opportunity Act was established. The heart of both of these acts was and is to protect the individual’s rights as well as promote employment opportunities for everyone within the workplace. Obviously the government is aware and trying to prevent and protect the rights of these individuals through the



References: Crawshaw, C. (2010). Workplace diversity pays dividends; having a wide range of backgrounds helps with innovation. Leader Post, H, 1. Retrieved July 19, 2010, from ProQuest Direct database. Dunleavey, M.P. (2007). A breadwinner rethinks gender roles. New York Times, C, 6. Retrieved July 19, 2010, from ProQuest Direct database. Lauer, R.H., & Lauer, J.C. (2006). Social problems and the quality of life (10th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill. Sullum, J. (2010, Aug/Sept). Arrest everybody. Reason magazine, 8. Retrieved July 19, 2010, from ProQuest Direct database. Martin, L.L. (2010, Fall). Non-married women and black ethnicity: an analysis of the likelihood of homeownership. Western journal of black studies, 325-336. Retrieved July 19, 2010, from ProQuest Direct database.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Double Penalty Cases

    • 1934 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Many groups in American history have traveled various paths to challenge the one dimensional thinking that has been etched in our cultural thought process due to the Constitutional language this country was built on. While these pathways have their individual twists and turns, they all have intersected for the common cause of equality. Hispanic, African American, Homosexual, and Disabled Americans are just a few of the groups that have each raised a cohesive voice to synergize the cause. One group that sometimes gets overlooked but still continues to carry the torch is Women. Apart from the Equal Rights Amendment and the Suffrage movement, the path of gender equality…

    • 1934 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Antigone Feminist Analysis

    • 2008 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Despite our sweeping achievements, inequality today seems to be a no-win obstacle. It is a struggle but in reality, women all over the world are fighting for equal rights. We are fighting for equality and identity on an economic, political, and social grounds.…

    • 2008 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    For thousands of years human societies have functioned with various forms of social injustice and oppression. But the largest and most long lasting system of oppression is the patriarchal system. In which, women are not afforded the same economic, social, and educational opportunities as men. For example, in America today full time female workers still only make seventy-eight cents for over dollar their male coworkers make (Hill 1). However the tireless work of women’s rights advocated like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Alice Paul has led to landmark equality legislation and real measurable strides towards greater gender equality. Because…

    • 3039 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    For many years, throughout history women have fought hard political battles to win rights that men possessed automatically because of their gender. Since the early times women have been viewed as inferior and have had fewer opportunities. Today most women have gained legal rights throughout the world like the right to vote. American Women have made many strides in gaining rights and equality; however we still face some concern for women’s equality especially in the workforce.…

    • 1051 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Women and Glbt

    • 305 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Throughout time, women have always been seen as the weaker sex of the human race. Not only have they been considered weaker, but also intellectually inferior to men. Women were considered to be better suited for roles inside the home as a wife and a mother. They have had fewer legal rights and career opportunities. In the 20th century, women won the right to vote and also increased their educational and job opportunities. With these opportunities, women have merged onto the workforce and political stages.…

    • 305 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Inequality In The 1500s

    • 1148 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Inequality is a monster that has plagued humanity for as long as the world has been around. Human beings have created social, economic, and legal disparities between members of different races and ethnicities, different sexual orientations, different classes, and more. One group that has consistently been the victim of inequality and discrimination throughout history is women. There are many examples of inequality between the sexes in the modern age. In order to better understand them, it is necessary to first look back in history and learn about the road that led to today’s society.…

    • 1148 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    For example, time and time again, women have fought hard to have equality among men and to be included and counted as equals in society. From women’s suffrage, where they actively fought towards becoming eligible to vote in the passing of the nineteenth amendment, to equal pay in the workforce, a battle that still is being fought, women have inspired change through their promotion of equality and yearning for an egalitarian society, concerning the impartiality and even-handedness between men and women. The inclusion of women in society has stimulated change and caused the world to grow through several aspects that may have never been thought of if some restrictions of inequality still remained on women. For example, women had a part in the passing of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which was intended to prohibit sex-based wage discrimination.…

    • 682 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Eth 125 Final Paper

    • 1580 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Macionis, J. J. (2012). Social problems (4th ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.…

    • 1580 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    “According to TNS Research Surveys, 68 percent of women surveyed believe gender discrimination exist in the workplace. Federal law protects women and other minorities from discrimination in the workplace. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 ended the practice of paying men more than women when performing the same jobs and duties. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act extended this protection to other minorities. Despite these protections, many women still feel gender-based discrimination is a problem in some businesses” (Gluck). Regardless of the amount of attention discrimination of forms may receive and the progress made towards equal rights for all individuals in the work place, there is evidence that discrimination is still not a thing of the past just yet.…

    • 1849 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Inequality In America

    • 232 Words
    • 1 Page

    Do you want to make America great again? The first step is to end or decrease gender inequality. We don’t know how gender inequality has started, but it was a long time ago. It has gotten better over the years, especially since the 10’th century. Now it is not getting any better, maybe even worse if Donald Trump becomes president. gender inequality is still a problem in America, but there are ways to fight against it.…

    • 232 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Inequality In America

    • 960 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Although the American society that we live in today prides itself on equal job opportunity and progression, it is easy to see behind the deceiving façade. Women have always been viewed as the less dominant gender due to the patriarchy that is provided by society. In fact, women are still making a measly seventy-seven cents for every dollar that a man makes, and the gap is even worse for African-American or Latina women working (Huffington). Even with women having a greater entry into the workforce in recent years, their pay is still considerably less than a man’s (Conley 312). Due to this suffering pay disparity, the women in the workplace are forced to suffer through many barriers that are not thought…

    • 960 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Throughout history, women have been notably resilient and powerful in overcoming all forms of inequity. As the population exponentially grows, women make up almost half of the workforce, they are the sole or co-breadwinner in American families, and they receive more college degrees than men. Yet, women continue to earn significantly less than men in their careers. The wage gap is the ratio earnings of women and men within the economy as a whole. Sociologists have studied that the persistence of the wage gap over time plays in the role of discrimination. Is there discrimination within the workplace? An estimate of 38% wage gap still remains unexplained when factors reasonably thought to affect the gap are controlled for: hiring, firing, promotions,…

    • 265 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    What I found most surprising this semester is the fact that occupational steering is a legit thing. I have always heard as a little kid from my grandparents how "they" try to keep minorities down and only supply certain people with certain jobs. Well to an extent they are absolutely correct, but the book really gives me more perspective and sheds some awareness in my direction.…

    • 420 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Wage Gap In America

    • 692 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Every day, from almost every company, in every part of the world, millions of men and women receive unequal wages in their day to day careers. Even here in America, with over 77,000 workers ("Workers Paid Hourly Rates" 1), there are drastic differences between ranks. "In 2014, female full-time workers made only 79 cents for every dollar earned by men" ("Equality and Discrimination" 1). However, the diversity occurs not just between men and women, but also between races. The female wage gap appears largest for Hispanic and Latina women, who were paid only 54% of what white men, were paid in 2014 (Hill 4). While countless Americans may not see an obstacle, that is exactly the issue. In order for a healthier nation to exist with a better basis…

    • 692 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Women lack a voice who will advocate for them in promoting their abilities and skills to help them accomplish the upward mobility they so desire both in the workplace and in their careers. They are held to a higher standard than men because of their new found independence and drive to be successful. Gender Inequality has been an ongoing problem that has impacted society for many years. Although there are a number of issues associated with the topic, the concept of the glass ceiling and women’s exploitation are important and very real in today’s society. This paper will cover a brief history of gender inequality, the transition of women from home to the workplace, the concept of the Glass ceiling and exploitation amongst women in the workplace…

    • 1229 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays

Related Topics