The Gender Bias: How Men and Women are Treated Differently

The Gender Bias: How Men and Women are Treated Differently in Law, Media, and Social Interactions

Gender bias refers to unequal perceptions or treatment directed to people depending in their gender. It results from the distinctions associated with socially constructed roles of gender together with biological means via brain structure, chromosomes, and hormonal variances. Gender bias is of diverse forms. It is usually direct when practices or norms openly distinguish treatment based on gender/sex while it is indirect when although practices or norms fail to make open gender/sex references, they comprise of requirements that advantage individuals of the reverse sex. Whether the differences in gender prevail in the manner in which they influence, communicate or lead, women and men have served as unique and distinct sets of individuals. Gender bias continues to prevail even in developed societies, including the U.S., irrespective of the various changes aimed at overcoming gender discrimination. The countervailing factors comprise of legal system changes, economic rationality, progressive politics, as well as the individual efforts of women to attain equal opportunities. Gender bias serves as key area of concern among global policymakers for reasons of boosting economic growth as well as sustaining continuity in the process of development (Davis, 2018) . Therefore, the paper explores the issue of gender bias in terms of how men and women are treated differently in law, media, and social interactions.

Law

Majority of the gender differences depicted in courts and other agencies of the criminal justice systems tend to originate from the social perceptions or stereotypes of how women and men behave in varied ways. One area in which men and women have been treated differently is the sentencing for sex crimes. During cases where women are convicted of sex crimes, they are prone to receiving sentences are associated with leniency compare to their male counterparts who have been convicted of similar crimes. Possibly, this could be based on the assumption that men tend to show more sexual aggression while women are more passive in regards to the same sexual behavior. Literature also shows other areas where women are likely to be treated differently from their male counterparts in the criminal justice system. For instance, men are likely to face detention before trials compared to women; men are more likely to be sentenced to prison compared to women; men convicted of theft related crimes are often subject to longer prison times compared to women. It may also be of importance to note that, even though women coming from almost all races have higher chances of being released before trial in comparison to men, it has be evident that black women are usually held on higher amounts of bonds compared to white women (Russell, 2012).

Regarding the types of court cases, courts are more likely to great female defendants differently from male defendants depending on the types of case, for example, domestic violence related cases. A report prepared by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) showed that approximately one in four women faced severe domestic violence while among males victims, one in seven men faced similar problems. In the same report, it was indicated that majority of defendants in cases of domestic violence were men, especially those accused of abusing the wives or female partners, even though women were also reported to engage in domestic violence against their male or even female partners. However, stereotypical inclinations regarding gender roles as well as homophobia, may get in the way of relevant investigations and prosecution, particularly when crime differs from fictional media portrayal of domestic violence (Dutton, 2011). Experts in the criminal justice system advice that in cases where discrimination of gender bias leads to unfair trials, the defendants can appeal the case and this may potentially result in a new court ruling ( Spohn and Hemmens, 2012). 

Gender and Media Portrayal

Regarding the diverse influences concerning how women and men are viewed in the society, the media serves as the most pervasive and powerful. Playing a dominant role in daily lives, the media insinuates messages to people’s consciousness often (Gilles & Feldman-Jacobs, 2012) . All media forms communicate the images associated with the sexes, while most of them perpetuate stereotypical, unrealistic, and limiting discernments (Wood, 2018) . Women and men are depicted in stereotypical ways, which reflect as well as maintain social views concerning gender.

The media stereotypes men by depicting them as dominant, aggressive, and involved in amazing activities, which lead them to receive rewards from others due to the ‘masculine accomplishments that realize. Additionally, recent studies have revealed a large number of men on prime-time television as aggressive, independent, and in charge. Programming in television targeting all ages depicts men in a disproportionate manner as competent, confident, serious, on high-power positions, and powerful. The gentleness that men portrayed during the 1970s appears to have receded since the recognized male characters appears to be redrawn to emerge tougher as well as distanced from others. For instance, considering highly popular films, such as Predator, Lethal Weapon, Total Recall, Days of Thunder, and Robocop Die Hard, they star men embodying stereotypes characterized by intense masculinity (Wood, 2018) . The media then strengthens the longstanding ideals of culture concerning masculinity. Men are depicted as tough, hard, sexually aggressive, independent, violent, unafraid, and overall in control of all emotions, while not portraying feminine traits at all (Conroy, 2015) . Another interesting feature is the manner in which men are not presented. For instance, men are seldom depicted as doing housework. Men and boys are usually presented as incompetent or uninterested in cooking, homemaking, and caring for children. For instance, several ads depict omen as incompetent in the kitchen while incapable of caring for children. When an individual is depicted as caring for a child, it is normally the mother rather than the father (Wood, 2018) . This indicates negative stereotypes directed toward men as uncaring and uninterested in family matters.

When it comes to women, the media depicts women as sex objects in the same line with cultural views, while they are thin, beautiful, young, dependent, passive, dumb, and incompetent. The female characters are mostly revealed as dedicating most of their energies in improving appearances as well as taking care of people and homes. The stereotypes directed toward women by the media, the images portrayed reveal cultural stereotypes deviating from reality. Women and girls are underrepresented in a dramatic manner (Wood, 2018) . The requirements for beauty and youth in women also influences news shows, such as where female newscasters are anticipated to appear younger, physically appealing, as well as less outspoken unlike the case of males. Ranging from programming directed toward children in which a limited exciting women characters spend time viewing as men do things to women satisfying the sexual fantasies of men, the media depicts the image of women as ornamental objects, dependent. Their primary role is to appear good, please men, and remain silent on life’s periphery (Gilles & Feldman-Jacobs, 2012) .

Differences in Social Interactions

Feminine and masculine cultures as well as individuals are different in the manner in which they relate with others. For instance, feminist individuals usually self-disclose more as opposed to masculine persons, as well as in specifics that are more intimate. Similarly, feminine individuals normally communicate more affection while portraying more confidence and intimacy as opposed to masculine persons. In general, feminine individuals communicate more while they also prioritize communication unlike the case of masculine individuals. Conventionally, feminine and masculine individuals relate with their genders in distinct ways. Masculine individuals establish friendship with other masculine people depending on shared interests whereas feminine persons establish friendships with people of same gender depending on similar factors (Eagly, 2013) . The factors comprise of acceptance, proximity communication, effort, affection, novelty, and common interests.

Context also plays an essential role in terms of determining the manner in which people communicate with others. It is essential to comprehend what script is ideal for utilization in every respective relationship. Precisely, having understanding concerning ways of communicating affection in a certain context is quite essential. For instance, masculine individuals anticipate rivalry in the friendships they establish. They refrain from communicating vulnerability and weakness (Eagly, 2013) . They also refrain from communicating emotional or personal concerns. Masculine persons normally communicate affection usually by including their colleagues in activities as well as exchanging favors. Masculine individuals usually relate with each other shoulder-to-shoulder, such as watching games or television. On the other hand, feminist individuals have higher chances of communicating vulnerability and weakness. In fact, they might be driven by the urge for seeking out friendship when they encounter such challenging situations (Lumen Learning, 2018) . As such, feminist individuals usually have close ties with their friends as opposed to masculine individuals. feminist persons usually value their friends when they communicate in a non-critical manner, show support, communicate self-esteem feelings, offer comfort, as well as support personal growth. Feminist individuals normally interact with one another one-on-one, such as meeting together for a conversation during lunch.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the issue of gender bias is a dominant one in the current society. Differences prevail in terms of how they are treated in law, media, and in social interactions. In law, women are less likely to face harsh sentences compared to their male counterparts. In the media, both men and women are stereotyped in such a manner that men are portrayed as tough, hard, sexually aggressive, independent, violent, unafraid, and overall in control of all emotions. For women, they are depicted as thin, beautiful, young, dependent, passive, dumb, and incompetent. In the event of social interactions, feminists usually self-disclose in relationships whereas masculine people refrain from such. In this perspective, therefore, while the society seems to be fighting for equality across genders, the issue of gender bias still prevails, especially on how men and women are treated in law, media, and in social interactions.

References

Conroy, M. (2015). Gender bias and mainstream media. In masculinity, media, and the American presidency. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Croson, R., & Gneezy, U. (2009). Gender differences in preferences. Journal of Economic Literature, 47 (2), 448-474.

Dutton, D.G. (2011). Rethinking Domestic Violence. New York: UBC Press.

Davis, T. A. (2018). Gender inequality in law enforcement and males' attitudes and perceptions toward women working in law enforcement. Retrieved from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.1004.1066&rep=rep1&type=pdf

Eagly, A. H. (2013). Sex differences in social behavior: A social-role interpretation. London: Psychology Press.

Gilles, K., & Feldman-Jacobs, C. (2012). When technology and tradition collide: From gender bias to sex selection. Washington, DC: Population Reference Bureau.

Lumen Learning. (2018). Gender differences in social interaction. Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/cochise-sociology-os/chapter/gender-differences-in-social-interaction/

Russell, B. (2012). Perceptions of Female Offenders: How Stereotypes and Social Norms Affect Criminal Justice Responses. New York: Springer Science and Business Media.

Spohn, C., & Hemmens, C. (2012).  Courts: A text/reader . Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE Publications.

Wood, T. J. (2018). Gendered media: The influence of media on views of gender. Retrieved from https://www.nyu.edu/classes/jackson/causes.of.gender.inequality/Readings/Wood%20-%20Gendered%20Media%20-%2094.pdf