As a concept, the term ‘minority group’ is used to refer to a sociological class of people. It is not a relational social cluster as the term may suggest. It is defined as a group of people who are isolated from others in the community as a result of their physical and cultural attributes. The individuals regard themselves as objects of collective discrimination.
It is argued that women fail to fully present the subjective attributes associated with minority groups (Schaefer, 2009). In addition, they do not harbor any feelings of being treated unfairly because of their gender. However, a critical review of this category of individuals reveals that it is a minority group. The reason is that they suffer from various injustices as a result of their gender.
The main aim of this paper is to take an in-depth look into women as a minority group. The author will analyze the differential and unequal treatment this group receives from other members of the society as a result of their status.
Political Underrepresentation of Women
Women remain underrepresented in high level political positions. More men are elected into powerful political offices than women. The main reason is that this group is viewed as inferior to men and incapable of leading. The legislations put in place in many countries have also discouraged them from running for office. In many developing countries, women are often denied the right to vote for their preferred candidates. Such issues have made it hard for them to air their views since they have no one to fight for them (Smith & Niemeier, 2005).
In recent times, the problem of underrepresentation has begun to change. The change is brought about by the emergence of suffragists (Schaefer, 2009). The term refers to individuals who are fighting for the rights of women to vote. Their continued efforts have ensured that women can be treated equally to men with regards to suffrage. They are capable of selecting a person who can represent them in politics.
Discrimination against Women in the Workplace
The challenges facing women in the workplace remain a critical issue in today’s corporate world. Most of them are held back in their pursuit to climb up the career ladder. Inequality issues regarding executive salaries are rooted in socio-cultural views and perceptions that have prevailed over the years (Hughes, 2011). The problem persists even after years of struggle for equal rights in employment.
Women face discrimination given that they are treated differently from men holding similar positions (Schaefer, 2009). They are considered to be weak and inferior to men. Their talents are not appreciated in the workplace. According to Kecia, Pais, and South (2012), most of them encounter a glass ceiling in their efforts to achieve better pay and promotion in their career (Schaefer, 2009).
The arbitrary ceiling blocks their progress because of their gender and status as a minority group. Most men in the corporate world are afraid that women will shutter this masculine-oriented glass block and change the dynamics of leadership with their diverse management styles.
Restricting Women to Household Chores
In some societies, the treatment given to women as a minority group is very extreme. They are limited to household duties (Kecia et al., 2012). To this end, they provide unpaid services to family members. As a result, they depend heavily on the income of other persons in their life. In case of death of the provider, most women are instantly transformed into displaced homemakers (Schaefer, 2009). The situation can also be brought about by divorce.
The transformation arises as a result of the fact that these women have not worked for pay in the past. As such, they lack the knowledge and skills needed to engage in employment or other income generating activities. They have to take care of themselves and their children. They do this without the benefit of any stable source of income (Hughes, 2011). In most cases, the government does not provide any form of support to these homemakers.
Women, Marriage, and their Status as a Minority Group
In some of the societies where women are viewed as a substandard group, they are not allowed to choose their marriage partners. Instead, they are forced to take part in arranged marriages (Schaefer, 2009). The arrangement refers to a situation where one’s marital partner is chosen by others.
The resulting relationship is not based on a pre-existing mutual attraction. The practice was common in ancient times. However, it is still a normal occurrence in South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and parts of East Asia. It is regarded as a violation of women rights and respect for them as human beings. They are expected to take the partners selected for them without any questions. On the contrary, men have the option of declining the women chosen for them.
Highly Regulated Mode of Dressing for Women
In some communities, men treat women as their property. The idea of these individuals as a minority group is ingrained in the minds of these men. In most cases, the male members of the society dictate what their wives, daughters, and sisters should wear.
In addition, they determine how the clothes selected for the women should be worn. For instance, many men in the Islamic societies force their women to wear hijab. In most cases, the hijab is made up of layers of garments covering the whole body (Schaefer, 2009). As such, it can be very uncomfortable, especially during hot weather (Kecia et al., 2012).
The Connection between Sociology and Women as a Minority Group
Sociology is the academic study of social behavior. It analyses the origins, development, and organization of this phenomenon. It uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about social order, disorder, and change (Kecia et al., 2012). In the context of this paper, sociology can be used to understand how women came to be grouped as a minority group. In addition, it can be used to analyze the various challenges facing this category of individuals.
Using knowledge in sociology, it is possible to see how the term ‘minority group’ can be objectively and subjectively imposed on an individual.
For instance, membership to this group is objectively ascribed by the society based on an individual’s physical and behavioral characteristics. It can also be subjectively applied by some individuals who may use their status as the basis of group identity and solidarity. Sociological studies reveal that as a minority group, women are viewed as a distinct class of individuals in the society (Hughes, 2011).
Conclusion
In terms of numbers, women are more than men in modern society. However, in spite of this, they are still regarded as a minority group. It is also clear that regardless of the various checks and balances put in place, the full protection of women in modern society is not assured. They are discriminated against on the basis of their gender. However, it is apparent that women may be responsible for this form of alienation. The reason is that in most cases, they do not objectify the mistreatment from men.
References
Hughes, M. (2011). Intersectionality, quotas, and minority women’s political representation worldwide. American Political Science Review, 105(3), 604-620.
Kecia, J., Pais, J., & South, S. (2012). Minority population concentration and earnings: Evidence from fixed-effects models. Social Forces, 91(1), 181-208.
Schaefer, R. (2009). Racial and ethnic groups (12th ed.). New Jersey: Pearson.
Smith, V., & Niemeier, D. (2005). Building careers, transforming institutions: Underrepresented women and minorities, leadership opportunities, and interinstitutional networking. Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering, 11(2), 181-196.