Gender stratification Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Gender stratification - Essay Example Sexism, as used in this context, refers to the situation in which men are seen as superior beings and therefore, regarded as better suited to take on challenging tasks and education fields. On practical perspective, sexism has had severe consequences on women. As widely cited, sexism has always made women to strive to avoid impressing careers often seen as belonging to men. Perhaps, this might be hinged on the fact that their objective is to avoid the societal impression that they are much less desirable as mothers or spouses or even less feminine. Gender stratification often encompasses all the aspects of a person’s social life cutting across the social classes. As such, it relates the probabilities of both genders to the unequal access to property, power and prestige due to the sex differences. This area of interest explores social patterns coupled with cultural practices. When one dives into the mechanics of society workings, certain features are common to each and every co mmunity. In connection to this, there also exist differences in characteristics, traditions and customs. More particularly the differences observed in institutions of learning concerning the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics clearly points out this extended form of stratification. Gender identity is the classification of one as either male or female. It is how an individual sees himself or herself. It is the apparent manifestations that result from the personality of an individual. It has the ability to reflect on ones gender identity. Gender identity is self identified and results from intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Many at times gender identity can be confused with gender roles. The latter denotes behavior manifested by factors acquired through observation; this can be exemplified by behavior and appearance. Thus, the gender role is often an outward expression of a person’s gender identity. This article will endeavor to expound on such gender stra tification, with a focus on gender construction, gender socialization and the role of media. This being the case, five articles will be analyzed in a move to have a broader view of this discussion. Body According to the Broyles (2009) the gender pay gap of women in the United States that experiences and education accounted for most of the widespread gender gap. According to the findings of this article, work function and the employer accounts for most of the pay gap. Indeed, women hold positions in the lower paying chemistry positions. This article, well points out that work place diversity within the STEM professions is less likely to occur without the wage parity between men and women in the STEM professions. Elaborating further on this subject, this article asserts that, a way of achieving gender pay equity in the STEM professions must involve the federal tax incentives in order to ensure compliance with the standards stipulated by the federal pay equity standards. Giving a back up on this issue, the article by Shapiro and Williams point it out that, stereotype threats have played a role in undermining women performance as well as, reducing the interests of women in STEM fields (Shapiro & Williams 74). In one study, they observed that negative stereotypes presented by parents and the teachers shaped the interests of women and their abilities in the performance of STEM field. Indeed their