Introduction
The subject of preference between males and females is covered in the interdisciplinary field of gender studies. Most sociologists agree that the concept of maleness and femaleness is ingrained within the social structures of society. However, according to Hideg and Wilson (2020), gender inequality is common in the community. Researchers have explored the issue of gender inequality through four different interdisciplinary lenses: historical, humanity, social and applied sciences, and social sciences.
History Lens
The historical perspective is crucial for gaining a greater knowledge of gender inequality since it reveals its roots and tracks patterns. Women’s changing status in the workforce is closely related to how they view themselves as independent. Before the 1960s, it was rare for women to provide for a household, but with time, it became commonplace for both couples to work (Hideg and Wilson 2020). Throughout history, it is clear how over the years, the perception of women in society changed.
Humanities Lens
Gender stereotypes are present in society because of how teachers treat their students. According to Trusz (2020), most teachers think boys should study specific sciences while girls should do better in the humanities. Teachers thereby promote these biases in their daily classroom interactions. It seems unjust that women have trouble finding work since they could become parents or caretakers. However, from the company’s perspective, providing a position to a woman who could take maternity leave at some point is not advantageous.
Natural and Applied Sciences Lens
In the scientific and applied sciences, the subject of women in the workforce is significant. Greider et al. (2019) estimate that men make up 76% of professionals in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). This imbalance is caused by several factors, including the widespread prevalence of gender-based abuse. Women typically do not report instances of workplace harassment; therefore, institutions should take more proactive measures to punish sexually harassing men.
Social Science Lens
Both sociologists and legal experts concur that a gender bias ingrained in society is the primary factor contributing to the issue of women in the workforce. The sociologists Hideg and Wilson’s (2020) research demonstrates that having a child reduces a woman’s work prospects, even with similar or greater qualifications as a male. This suggests that regardless of a company’s area of expertise, the employing staff is still motivated by the misconception that it would be preferable to hire a male employee.
Conclusion
The fact that the issue of women in the workforce has persisted over the years is quite crucial. It is important to note that women in some fields encounter various obstacles related to their working environments rather than the activities they complete. Nevertheless, it is evident that gender inequality has become less prevalent as years pass due to more societal understanding and representations.
References
Hideg, I., & Wilson, A. E. (2020). History backfires: Reminders of past injustices against women undermine support for workplace policies promoting women. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 156, 176-189. Web.
Greider, C. W., Sheltzer, J. M., Cantalupo, N. C., Copeland, W. B., Dasgupta, N., Hopkins, N., Jansen, J. M., Joshua-Tor, L., McDowell, G. S., Metcalf, J. L., McLaughlin, B. A., Olivarius, A., O’Shea, E. K., Raymond, J. L., Ruebain, D., Steitz, J. A., Stillman, B., Tilghman, S. M., Valian, V., … Wong, J. Y. (2019). Increasing gender diversity in the STEM research workforce. Science, 366(6466), 692–695. Web.
Trusz, S. (2020). Why do females choose to study humanities or social sciences, while males prefer technology or science? Some intrapersonal and interpersonal predictors. Social Psychology of Education, 23(3), 615-639. Web.