Summary
My cousin recently applied for a job at a construction company where she met all the qualifications. She presented an undergraduate degree and master’s degree in the same field, and she had worked in the required industry for a significant amount of time. She was disappointed when she did not get the job but shocked when the position was given to a man who had fewer years of experience. The employers said that she did not fit the role, especially since it involved much fieldwork on construction sites. Incidences such as these are common, and they count as gender discrimination as men are given priority over women without any consideration towards the qualifications. Watching her struggle, even having met the requirements, made me passionate about delivering this speech.
Background
Traditionally, the role of a provider in a home belongs to the man while the role of a woman is supposed to be the caretaker. Therefore, men are the ones who would go out in search of a living and come back to a comfortable home. History also tells us that men would go hunting while women would take care of cleanliness and preparing food. Beliefs about man being the one to provide for his family have been in existence for a long time. Modern society is changing this since many women are major participants in the economic sector. This shift in beliefs may be a major reason why women face such a challenge in their workplaces.
Current Situation
Discrimination in the workplace is one of the most debatable topics currently worldwide, with a sharp increase in cases charged concerning it. More women continue to report discrimination against them, yet the issue seems to be beyond control. Discrimination does not necessarily mean sexual harassment, as many people think, although it counts as a form. Dismissing a woman’s proposal during decision-making or considering a man when an opportunity for promotion arises are forms of discrimination as well. The problem is more common to women in industries that have been known to be male-dominated, such as the construction industry, just like in the case of my cousin. A study by the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) found that girls aged 5-14 spend 30%-50% more of their time on household chores than boys of the same age (UNICEF, 2019). A hundred years ago, the thought of women working in the economic sector was non-existent.
Measurement of Achievement of the Target
The goal is to reduce any form of gender bias, which will eventually lead to its elimination. One of the indicators of success will be if the number of cases concerning discrimination reduces. A study conducted by Research Centers showed that 42% of women in the United States faced some form of gender discrimination (Heise et al., 2019). This number is projected to increase if no action is taken to control these issues due to more women going into the industry. Another measure of the target would be determining the success of women in various workplaces. This success may be an increase in the number of women in places of work, their number in administrative positions, and their productivity. Researchers should measure statistics yearly to determine the progress made in combating this menace and monitoring progress. Remuneration paid to women in the workplace is also a way of measuring the attainment of the target. Women should receive as much pay as their male counterparts.
The Center for Creative Leadership proved through surveys of 500 companies that organizations with a higher representation of women on their boards outperform those with a lower number of women. The center also found that women would bring more organization to the companies they served (CCL Leading Effectively Staff, 2019). Gender equality is achievable and must involve each of us playing our role effectively. Furthermore, law enforcers should take practical action whenever discriminatory cases are brought to them. This move will ensure that such claims are treated with the seriousness they deserve. A community where women are empowered is a prosperous society.
References
Center for Creative Leadership Leading Effectively Staff. (2019). Women in the Workplace: Why Women Make Great Leaders & How to Retain Them. www.ccl.org
Heise, L., Greene, M., Opper, N., Stavropoulou, M., Harper, C., Nascimento, M. (2019). Gender inequality and restrictive gender norms: Framing the health challenges. The Lancet, 393 (10189), pp. 2440-2454.
UNICEF. (2019). Five Actions for Gender Equality in the COVID-19 Response: UNICEF technical note.UNICEF.