Summary
Gender disparity is one of the most disturbing and challenging global issues in the contemporary world. In general, this social phenomenon may be described as specific differences in access to status, resources, and well-being for women and men. Gender disparity traditionally favors men and is frequently institutionalized through social norms, justice, and law. The peculiarities of gender disparity related to the men’s superior social position cause gender discrimination. It implies unfair treatment including exclusion, distinction, and restriction based on the female sex, violation of women’s rights, and denial of their opportunities (Zarar, Bukhsh, and Khaskheli 2017). Gender discrimination rejects the equality of women and men and female fundamental freedoms and opportunities in the economic, political, cultural, civil, and social fields.
Despite substantial progress in all spheres of life, women remain vulnerable to discrimination, prejudice, violence, and exploitation all over the world. According to the research of WHO conducted with the Medical Research Council and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 35% of women “have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence” (Al Dosary 2016:165). Discrimination is present even in developed countries “that claim to be champions of women’s rights” (Zarar et al. 2017:1). In a substantive number of organizations, “the gender gap in wages” that implies the different payment for men and women is still observed (Popescu 2016). Meanwhile, gender discrimination and stigmatization are particularly common in developing countries, such as India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh (Zarar et al. 2017). Women are frequently treated as second-class citizens – they are not allowed to leave the house without the male relative’s permission and spend money on their essential needs (Zarar et al. 2017). The non-implementation of established social regulations may lead to severe legal or domestic punishment.
Hypothesized Causes
Women currently remain vulnerable to discrimination, prejudice, violence, and exploitation all over the world because culture and society form gender roles, norms, and stereotypes that may hurt the perception of femininity. For instance, according to cultural and religious norms and traditions of specific communities, a woman is regarded as the man’s property. After marriage, she will not be able to return to her parents or take care of them during old age. That is why the birth of a girl is frequently unwanted. In Islamic culture, women are responsible for covering themselves with a veil and housekeeping regardless of their desires or talents. Traditionally, patriarchal norms deny women’s right to make decisions related to their reproduction and sexuality.
As social norms are accepted both consciously and unconsciously by group members, gender discrimination may be learned as well. The major “agents of gender socialization,” such as family, educational institutions, peer groups, and mass media, have a highly substantial impact on the creation of women’s image (Chambliss and Eglitis 2018:260). Parents traditionally have particular beliefs concerning their children’s behavior based on their gender. In addition, they explicitly or indirectly transmit their vision of other people. Children adopt their parents’ views and may support women’s discrimination in the future if it was common in their family. The focus of mass media and advertising on women’s frequently exaggerated femininity and sexuality, emotional instability, or a lack of independence leads to the negative perception of women as well.
Women currently remain vulnerable to discrimination, prejudice, violence, and exploitation all over the world because a substantial number of communities do not have educational standards and the appropriate level of economic development to reduce gender discrimination. In general, people from high socioeconomic classes and higher educational backgrounds do not support gender discrimination and do not have a prejudice against women (Zarar et al. 2017). Violence against female citizens exists mostly among the representatives of lower socioeconomic classes with a substantively poor educational background.
Hypothesized Consequences
Because women currently remain vulnerable to discrimination, prejudice, violence, and exploitation all over the world, they frequently suffer from health problems and emotional stress. The act of violence causes a harmful emotional and physical impact on victims. Abused women are typically subjected to anxiety, depression, suicidal behavior, and personality or somatic disorders. Violence may result in crucial physical injuries of the victim’s body as well. The devastating effect of women’s exploitation and discrimination frequently implies the inhibition of their self-determination. Moreover, gender discrimination negatively influences the development of society as women’s talents, skills, potential, and contribution to the communities’ growth are highly essential.
Because women currently remain vulnerable to discrimination, prejudice, violence, and exploitation all over the world, feminist organizations are expanding operations worldwide. In general, feminism may be defined as a historical, social, and political movement that aims to provide social, economic, political, and personal gender equality. Due to feminism, women may vote, study, choose the place of work, make decisions concerning their reproduction, control money, and have their property. However, women’s rights are currently violated in various societies across the globe. That is why feminists organize missions to support women in developing countries.
References
Al Dosary, Ahmad Hamad. 2016. “Health Impact of Domestic Violence against Saudi Women: Cross Sectional Study.” International Journal of Health Sciences 10(2): 165-173.
Chambliss, William J., and Daina S. Eglitis. 2018. Discover Sociology. 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Popescu, Gheorghe H. 2016. “Gender, Work, and Wages: Patterns of Female Participation in the Labor Market.” Journal of Self-Governance and Management Economics 4(1): 128-134.
Zarar, Rukhshanda, Muneera Moula Bukhsh, and Waheed Akbar Khaskheli. 2017.” Causes and Consequences of Gender Discrimination against Women in Quetta City.” Arts and Social Sciences Journal 8(3):1-6.