Unit 14 Summary.docx
Transcript
Unit 14 Summary Language and Gender: The text discusses how gender is deeply embedded in our languages. In German, there are three genders (der, die, das for male, female, and neutral), allowing for neutrality. In contrast, French and Spanish express gender as a binary, with objects being feminine o...
Unit 14 Summary Language and Gender: The text discusses how gender is deeply embedded in our languages. In German, there are three genders (der, die, das for male, female, and neutral), allowing for neutrality. In contrast, French and Spanish express gender as a binary, with objects being feminine or masculine. English uses generic masculine terms, such as “Mankind” to refer to all of humanity, which can invisibly marginalize females. The term “guys” is emerging as a new generic masculine term among Canadian youth, further illustrating this point. Gender Differentiation in Society: Society treats individuals differently based on their sex. This is evident in employment, where women often have jobs with less pay and prestige, while men have more prestigious, higher-paying jobs. In 1953, about 22% of females were in the labor force compared to 97-98% of males. By 2013, the representation of males and females in the labor force was almost equivalent. However, women tend to be employed in roles like speech-language pathologists, elementary and middle school teachers, and social workers, which align with traditional gender socialization. Men, on the other hand, fill roles such as chefs, architects, engineers, firefighters, aircraft pilots, and flight engineers. Gender Stratification: The text introduces the concept of gender stratification, which refers to the unequal access of males and females to property, prestige, and power. Women tend to be at the bottom of the hierarchy. Even in STEM careers, women tend to be paid less than men. In Canada, for every dollar a male makes, a female makes 73.5 cents, with the wage gap being more extreme among Indigenous and minority women. Representation in Parliament: Female representation in the Canadian parliament has increased from less than 1% in 1968 to 30% in 2019. However, this is still significantly lower than male representation. The text contrasts this with Sweden’s policies, which mandate equal gender representation in parliament and offer generous parental leave policies. In essence, language and societal structures can perpetuate gender biases and inequalities, emphasizing the need for continued progress towards gender equality. Gender barriers and advantages in society: Glass Ceiling: This refers to the invisible barrier that prevents women from reaching the highest executive levels. The term ‘glass ceiling’ is used because companies often deny its existence. An example is given of the University of Manitoba, where only one of the 14 presidents since 1877 has been female. Hiring Biases: Women without families are often overlooked in the hiring process due to assumptions about future maternity leaves. This results in women paying a greater cost in terms of opportunities and career advancement. Glass Elevator: This term refers to the fast-tracking of men in women-dominated occupations. For instance, a male hairstylist in a female-dominated field may receive more promotions and clients simply because he is male. Glass Cellar: This refers to the tendency of men to work in more dangerous jobs, leading to a higher risk of occupational deaths. However, men can be unwelcoming when women attempt to enter these fields, with female firefighters reporting significant harassment. In summary, the text highlights the systemic gender biases and inequalities present in our society, emphasizing the need for change. The text discusses the gender dynamics of violence, cultural practices, and their societal implications: Violence and Gender: In Canada, 90% of violent crimes are committed by males. Females are more likely to be victims of common assault, often experiencing physical, psychological, and financial abuse. Males are twice as likely to be victims of weapon assault and three times as likely to be victims of aggravated assault. This suggests that men are both the primary perpetrators and victims of extreme violence. Masculinity and Violence: The text argues that physical violence is not just a social problem, but also a masculinity and cultural problem. Society’s expectations of masculinity—being violent, assertive, aggressive, and emotionally stoic—can cause psychological harm to men and may lead some to resort to physical violence. Cultural Practices and Violence: The text introduces the concept of critical cultural relativism, emphasizing the need to question cultural practices that may violate human rights. It cites the example of honor killings in some cultures, where a family’s honor is tied to the sexual purity of its female members. If a woman shames her family, she may be killed to restore the family’s honor. This practice places the blame on women, regardless of men’s behavior. Dowries in India: The bride’s family gifts the groom’s family as part of the marriage exchange. If the groom’s family is unsatisfied with the dowry, they may stage a kitchen fire to murder the bride, allowing the groom to remarry and collect another dowry. This practice is not uncommon, with an estimated 5,000-20,000 cases per year. Islamic Purdah: In Islamic countries, there’s an emphasis on family honor and the sexual purity of females, leading to restrictions on women’s mobility and visibility. Women are often not allowed to be present when guests are present and are required to veil themselves. Protests against these repressive practices, such as the hijab protests in Iran in 2022, can lead to severe consequences, as exemplified by the case of Mahsa Amini. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): This involves the removal of the clitoris and/or labia minora/majora, depending on the culture. It’s practiced extensively in 28 countries in Africa, some parts of Asia, and the Middle East, usually between the ages of 13-14, often with unsterilized equipment. The procedure causes physical and psychological shock, hemorrhaging, severe blood loss, and can lead to complications like difficulty urinating, extreme menstrual pain, recurring bladder infections, renal failure, infertility, and loss of sexual pleasure. Increasingly, women outside Canada who have undergone FGM in other countries are being identified. Canada has laws to prosecute such cases, even if the procedure was performed abroad. Human Trafficking in Canada: In Manitoba, young Indigenous girls and women are often tricked and trafficked under the guise of employment opportunities. They end up being controlled by pimps, forced into addiction, and made to work in the sex trade industry. Despite the severity of this issue, advocacy groups struggle to receive funding. #MeToo and #ChurchToo Movements: The text mentions the prevalence of sexual abuse within religious institutions, including evangelical Christianity and Muslim communities. Women in these communities often face strict gender binaries and are viewed as lesser. Perception of Women as the ‘Weaker’ Sex: Despite evidence of women’s resilience, longevity, and high pain thresholds, societal focus on muscular strength has led to the perception of women as weaker. This perception contributes to gender inequality and harm towards women. In summary, the text underscores the pervasive nature of gender inequality and violence against women, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and progress, even in societies that have made significant strides towards equality. Gender as a Personal Issue While women have made significant strides in the workforce since the 1960s, gender inequality persists, particularly in the domestic sphere. Despite the increase in dual-earner marriages, women still shoulder most household tasks, often referred to as the “second shift”. This includes daily chores and care for elderly parents, the latter being termed the “third shift”. A 2017 survey showed that even in dual-earner households, women were primarily responsible for meal preparation. Men’s involvement in household tasks was found to be seasonal and episodic. Married women reportedly work at least 1.7 hours more per day on domestic tasks than their husbands, resulting in less leisure time. In addition to these challenges, women also face societal pressures related to beauty standards. Naomi Wolf, in her book “The Beauty Myth”, argues that while women are now free to pursue careers, they are still confined by unrealistic beauty standards. This “new cage” leads to a range of issues, including unhealthy body image, harmful dieting, and mental health challenges. Only a small percentage of women (around 5%) meet these standards, which often require artificial modifications such as photoshopping, Botox, or surgery. In summary, while progress has been made in terms of gender equality in the workforce, there is still much work to be done in the domestic sphere and in challenging societal beauty standards. The Women’s Movement The First Wave of feminism (1780-1920) was marked by women, like Mary Wollstonecraft, advocating for equal rights and freedoms for women, based on the Enlightenment idea that men and women are fundamentally the same. Wollstonecraft notably argued for women’s right to self-determination, rather than power over men. Women also played significant roles in social reform movements, such as the abolition of slavery in the US and the temperance movement, which sought to ban alcohol due to its social harms. However, their contributions were often overlooked or barred due to their gender. Structural reforms were another focus, with women working to address issues like child labor and poverty, and to provide community programming and education. The suffrage movement emerged from the need for women to have a vote to effect policy changes. This led to the birth of the suffragettes. Interestingly, many of these women were deeply committed Christians, despite the irony that contemporary Christianity often promotes female submission. The structural and suffrage movements in the First Wave of feminism saw significant contributions from women like Nellie McClung. Key milestones included the abolition of slavery in 1865, the legislation of prohibition in 1920, and the acquisition of the female vote in Canada in 1918, earlier in Manitoba in 1916 due to McClung’s efforts. However, progress slowed as cultural change lagged policy change. The Second Wave (1960-1995) was sparked by Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique”, which challenged the prevailing ideology of women’s domestic roles. This led to a movement as women recognized their shared dissatisfaction. The Royal Commission on the Status of Women, established in Canada in 1967 following JFK’s 1961 commission, aimed to assess the extent of gender inequality. The findings revealed women’s underrepresentation in various sectors and the need for cultural change to effect political change. Numerous commissions were set up to address issues like equal pay, highlighting the ongoing struggle for gender equality. The legalization of contraceptives in 1964 marked a significant shift in the social landscape, granting women more control over their reproductive choices. Issues such as sexual harassment and rape were also addressed during this period. Previously, women in the workplace often had to endure sexual innuendos and advances to progress in their careers. Rape laws also underwent changes, moving away from victim-blaming practices and stringent evidence requirements. As for the Third Wave of feminism, there is currently no clear consensus on its characteristics or existence. However, it’s important to note that while significant progress has been made in countries like the US and Canada, gender inequality remains a global issue. The voices and rights gained by women in these countries can and should be used to advocate for women worldwide.
