Society has often found itself to be consciously and unconsciously segregating its members based on gender. Men and women have been perceived differently, as well as treated differently. It is thus interesting to investigate whether men and women are different in terms of particular conditions. This research paper will attempt to gather information and analyze reports that have looked into the issue of management concerning gender.
According to Sullivan (23), men and women differ in terms of educational attainment. This has been reported based on the global literacy rate for men and women, wherein the female gender is significantly lower than that among men. Although this situation is not so obvious in the Western world, the discrepancy in the literacy rate between men and women is greater in developing countries. It has been observed that more than half of out-of-school children are girls and that among illiterate adults, two-thirds are comprised of women. These gender-based illiteracy reports thus indirectly suggest that women are less capable to manage particular situations than males because females have less access to educational resources for them to learn life-coping strategies. For example, such a decrease in education restrains females in their full understanding and awareness of their legal rights, including the right to be employed and to own real estate properties (CHR 34). The access of females to education through attendance in school is also affected by circumstances of early pregnancy, childrearing, and domestic family responsibilities. The lack or insufficiency of knowledge on reproductive health among women due to poor access to educational resources further hampers the living conditions of women. It is well-known that education is strongly correlated with employment options and financial stability, hence women are at a disadvantage with regards to availing such opportunities.
The same observation has been reported with regards to a study involving the role of testosterone in several life situations (Zitzmann 183). The report describes that men are generally observed to be in a better condition to manage based on the direct results of their studies involving the role of testosterone and specific human behavior. Since the male gender is known to be related to the secretion of the sex hormone testosterone, not only are the sexual physical characteristics inherent among males observed but male-specific behaviors and states of mind are also regulated by this hormone. The testosterone hormone has been determined to activate most of the organs and physiological systems of the human body, and since testosterone is a male-specific hormone and thus is suppressed in the human female body, then the male is deemed to perform better than the female. The paper discussed that not only is testosterone a metaphor for manhood, but there are actual conditions that are included in the report that identify testosterone in facilitating such actions and behavior. The specific actions described in the report include endurance and fitness thresholds, mental and stress thresholds, cognitive capabilities such as verbal and musical skills, and social talents.
One situation that magnifies the difference in threshold levels between men and women is the reported physical and mental abuse (CEDAW 22). In this situation, females are more likely to experience more cases of violence and this may be explained by the testosterone difference between the two genders, resulting in females perceiving themselves as defenseless elements of society. The situation of having testosterone present in the bodies of males and the lowly of self-perception of females thus results in the combinatorial condition of violence on females, making them twice at risk of violence. These kinds of circumstances tend to be more difficult because certain women from remote areas may be hesitant in reporting any violent incidents that they have experienced because they are concerned that no action will be performed with regards to their report or that their statement will be received with indifference or hostility. Certain members of the state may even disregard any reports of such type of violence for fear of being disgraced. It is unfortunate to know that in particular societies that follow a specific culture or religious tradition, gender-based violence is accepted by society. Any individuals who oppose such practices are usually charged with attempting to introduce Western culture to their traditional beliefs. Other countries treat gender-based violence as a ground for putting an individual in an asylum.
On the other hand, there are other reports that state that there are no differences in intelligence between men and women. In a test conducted to examine the general knowledge of individuals, it was observed that men and women had the same range of scores, which in turn indirectly suggests that men and women can both manage particular situations with the same competency and sound judgment (Deary 1703). In an attempt to further investigate gender-specific differences in intelligence, the study performed intelligence quotient (IQ) tests in a few hundred students and also considered the IQ scores of their corresponding mothers and fathers. The analysis showed that regardless of the IQ score of the mother and father, a student’s IQ is independent of his or her gender, as well as the genetic influence of the IQ scores of his parents.
On the other hand, there are also reports that women manage differently than men and that the female gender is thus stronger and can survive extreme life situations. According to a United Nations report, it has been estimated that approximately 1.3 billion individuals who are living in extreme need are women (UNDP 17). Such a report suggests that women have the capability of accepting hardship and must have the emotional, physical and mental strength to endure such extreme hardship. Although such difficult conditions are strongly related to their inability to receive any form of education as well as training courses hence rendering them under-qualified for most of the available employment, this report may be accepted with another point of view, that women can survive and adapt to difficult situations, unlike the males who have less endurance for an extreme living situation. Another observation that may be linked to the strength and management skills of women is the notion that there are more single mothers than single fathers in society. Such condition shows that women can take on the sole responsibility of bringing up their child or children by themselves than a single male parent. It must be possible that women are more mature in accepting and committing themselves to major responsibilities, hence women manage differently than men in this particular situation. Even amidst hardship due to poor governance, such as those in countries that do not provide unemployment insurance to single mothers or female heads of households, women still manage to survive such difficult situations. The merged effect of gender and personal responsibility is thus observed in these conditions.
There is an increasing concern in the last decade that gender plays role in society and that males and females are treated in different ways. This research report has collected information from three points of view regarding gender-specific management skills. One point of view describes that men are more adept in management skills and this observation is based on the opportunities that are provided to them by society and the government, while another factor that enhances this difference is based on the biological concept of testosterone. Another point of view describes that men and women have the same ability in managing conditions and situations. This point of view is based on the results collected from IQ tests, wherein both men and women have the same level of intelligence, regardless of sex and hereditary factors. The third point of view describes that women can manage better than males and this is described in international reports of having women survive through extreme conditions in life such as poverty and unemployment. In addition, the higher number of cases of single mothers over the number of single fathers can solely strengthen the notion that women can manage better than men.
It is important to understand that amidst biological similarities and differences between men and women, the surrounding environment of an individual also strongly influences the capabilities of an individual. In certain parts of the world that are based on gender, there are certain situations wherein no matter how strong a woman may be morally, physically or intellectual, social norms are prioritized and thus the female gender often ends up being affected and hindered in their activities.
Works cited
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Report to the General Assembly, 55th session, 2000 (A/55/38); and Contribution of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to the preparatory process and the World Conference against Racism. “Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.” CEDAW/C/2001/ I/CRP.3/Add.9.
Commission on Human Rights. “Resolution Women’s Equal ownership of, access to and control over land and the equal rights to own property and to adequate housing.” E/CN.4/RES/2000/13 and E/CN.4/RES/2001/34.
Deary IJ. “Differences In Mental Abilities.” BMJ 317:1701-1703, 1998.
Sullivan D. “Trends In The Integration Of Women’s Human Rights And Gender Analysis In The Activities Of The Special Mechanisms, in Gender Integration Into The Human Rights System:” E/CN.4/2000/INFORMAL, 1999.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). “Poverty Report 2000: Overcoming Human Poverty.”
Zitzmann M & Nieschlag E. “Testosterone Levels In Healthy Men And The Relation To Behavioural And Physical Characteristics: Facts And Constructs.” European Journal of Endocrinology 144:183-197, 2001.