Step 1
The issue to be discussed in this paper is gender inequality. Generally, gender inequality is a social problem in that men and women are not treated as equals. The unequal treatment ranges from various factors such as biological differences, disparities in physical appearance, psychology, and cultural norms.
Step 2
Gender inequality is a social problem since it promotes unequal treatment of men and women in society. Notably, women are the primary victims of gender inequality. For instance, gender inequality has seen women have limited access to quality education, excellent medical care, and a lack of employment opportunities. As such, gender inequality remains one of the most critical problems that sociologists address in various literary works.
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Factors Defining Gender Inequality
Several factors can be used to ascertain the existence of gender inequality in society. Firstly, unequal access to education primarily by women. Sociologists argue that women still have limited access to quality education and educational facilities and resources compared to men worldwide. Besides, a significant proportion of women, approximately one-quarter of women between the age of 15-24, have a high chance of dropping from school at the primary level. According to the human rights career (, 2019), the proportion of school drop-outs is estimated to be 58%school with two-thirds being women. When girls are not educated as boys, they ultimately have limited opportunities for lucrative employment opportunities in the labor market. The men will take all other well-paying jobs and professionals, leaving women to scramble for blue-collar jobs with significantly less pay. Besides, limited access to education means that women will ultimately lack essential skills for empowerment in society (HRC, 2019). Women will have the less technical know-how on issues affecting their wellness in the community. Hence, unequal access to educational opportunities, facilities, and resources spearhead gender inequality in many parts of the world.
Furthermore, job segregation supports gender inequality. There is an arching traditional and cultural belief that men do some jobs while others are done explicitly by women. The societal division of labor based on gender inadvertently reinforces gender inequality. HRC (2019) states that the jobs that are considered masculine pay well compared to feminine tasks. This discrimination results in lower income for women. In addition, women take a considerable percentage of unpaid labor as they participate in a paid workforce; this makes women work extra with zero financial compensation.
Standpoint Theory
The standpoint theory was advanced by sociologist Dorothy Smith in 1977. This theory has transitioned to become a critical frame of knowledge for sociologists. It proposes that social problems such as gender inequality have to be seen and addressed based on one’s position in life. Smith (1977) argues that sociological analyses of a social problem should effectively be examined from the “actualities” of an individual’s lived experiences in their immediate local settings of “everyday/ every night” life. Primarily, this theory poses that the need to effectively and efficiently address social problems should not be grounded on abstract conceptualization of the issues. Instead, it should emanate from one’s lived experiences and environment.
Analysis of Approaches
Person-blame Approach
The person-blame approach assumes that universal norms exist and behavior can be defined as deviant based on how individuals stray from the set norms. This means that people define a social problem based on the degree of deviation from society’s norms and standards. In the traditional setting, this system can address gender inequality since it defines a system of traditions and customs prevalent in a societal system. Hence, people who deviate from the set standards as considered a source of trouble to the community. This means that women may fail to become vocal for their rights and fight gender inequality practices for fear of being labeled wayward and sources of trouble to the peace and tranquility experienced in their societies. Besides, the person-blame approach can be used to justify the existence of gender inequality in society. For example, people might argue that women are less economically empowered because they do not work harder than their male counterparts. In perspective, the deviant is the reason for their problem.
System-blame Approach
Proposers of this approach argue that the system is the primary source of societal problems. This means that appreciating social issues requires understanding the distribution of power in society. This approach can address gender inequality by demanding those with power to formulate policies that support gender equality and parity. Individuals in authority can influence the formulation and implementation of policies that will help gender balance. Institutions are creations of human beings. Thus, they should be transformed when they no longer address the pressing issues of the people. This implies that institutions have to be accountable to the people with whose policies they affect. The demand for gender equality can be achieved in such institutions by passing policies that aim to uplift women. For instance, they can appoint women to key leadership roles, making them feel socially valued.
References
Human Rights Careers (2019). 10 Causes of Gender Inequality https://www.humanrightscareers.com/issues/causes-gender-inequality/
Smith, D. E. (1997). Comment on Hekman’s” Truth and Method: Feminist Standpoint Theory Revisited.” Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society , 22 (2), 392-398.
