The Effects of Gender Roles in the Workplace, Research Paper Example

Abstract

The paper is targeted on distinguishing the effects of gender roles in the workplace. The survey is conducted within the field of gender stereotyping so as to emphasize gender roles in modern-day society. As a result, the paper communicates the societal attitudes towards the mission of both sexes. It is important to make mention that the essay attempts to clarify the factors, which contributed to the issue of gender stereotyping; moreover, the focus is paid to public sentiments with regards to a gradual equating gender roles. In accordance with a variety of surveys conducted, even though the impact of gender roles in the workplace is still considered as a burning issue, one cannot but encounter the fact that today’s business reality stands for leveling gender roles.

Keywords: gender roles, workplace, burning issue.

Introduction

 Obviously, people are usually considered as social beings, which obey certain roles offered by the societal norms. Human awareness of the world as well as their moral values was originated since the time immemorial; it is important to take into consideration the fact that one can hardly modify the concept of human attitudes owing to contemporary interpreting. The question of gender roles obviously refers to the identification of an individual; the same about professional activity that one cannot but link up with gender roles. In accordance with the history, it is possible to admit that the males were usually engaged within industry; they were also involved in such areas of activity as science and art. Concerning the females, they were predominantly responsible for looking after their children and performing the domestic work.

The Patriarchate as the Predominance

Evidently, the masculine society strictly differentiated gender roles; the thing is that, the patriarchal community endowed the males with a vivid dominance within practically all the areas of activity in comparison with the females. Consequently, it is worth saying that the females are currently undergoing serious trials while attempting to escape the limits of gender stereotyping on the way to occupying some high posts; all in all, a number of women still “… rise to leadership positions in spite of these challenges.” (Ely., Ibarra & Kolb, 2011, p. 14) on the other hand, one should also take into account the thing that the recent polls give the evidence that a number of the females are still prone to staying at home and taking care of their children rather than making a career. Nevertheless, it does not mean that they are likely to be less efficient when performing in the workplace.

Despite the fact that the issue of sex discrimination in the workplace is currently characterized by numerous attempts of the authorities to be resolved, one can easily eyewitness the effects of gender stereotyping in various offices today. It is clear that “the notion of a woman as a leader is still foreign to many individuals.” (Moram, 1992, p. 477) Indisputably, the 21^st century has introduced a slight amendment to the issue of discrimination; the point is that nowadays, both males and females often collide with the problem of gender stereotyping in the workplace. Nonetheless, the females definitely take the lead in terms of prejudices from the side of today’s society. Of course, the impact of gender roles in the workplace is dreadful, since, on the one hand, it can traumatize the psyche of the employees, when, on the other, can result in possible losses of the enterprises. As a result, one should become aware that there is the need to level gender roles; otherwise, the stereotypical mode of thinking will continue infecting human awareness.

Challenges Faced by the Females

Inevitably, it is possible to emphasize a number of natural reasons why today’s females often prefer being at home and not choosing professional growth. Obviously, one should clearly understand that women give birth to kids; the given psychological feature influences the attitudes towards life values dramatically. It is clear that the female worker willing to have a baby will definitely be absent due to maternity leave. As a result, the females are likely to lose their experience within the area of their proficiency; since they lose their professional skills, they will hardly outperform the males in the workplace. It becomes apparent that their tasks within the family are extremely time-consuming, and it definitely distracts the females from getting back to improving their proficiency level in certain area. Considering the trials that the females are forced to pass, it becomes clear that they can only make attempts to somehow balance between two activities; however, it often appear to be extremely difficult.

Analyzing the issue of gender roles in the workplace, it becomes clear that the females are often induced to make some trade-offs so as to succeed in combining the process of looking after the children and making their career. The women usually accept part-time job. Furthermore, it is possible to emphasize some other opportunities for the female employees. The thing is that the authorities can offer all the necessary conditions in order to enable the females to leave the kids in the kindergarten while performing in the workplace.

In accordance with the societal expectations, the males are regarded as the leaders; as for the females, they are considered to abide the guidelines provided by the men. As a consequence, the females remained “…dramatically underrepresented at senior levels.” (Ely., Ibarra & Kolb, 2011, p. 3) The point is that the abovementioned gender stereotype is characteristic of a thumping majority of professional fields; it is clear that the females are likely to face pressure due to the reluctance of the society to come to terms with the need to rethink the destination of the females of the 21^st century. Obviously, various stereotypes, including, for instance, the requirement of external female’s beauty negatively influence the attitude towards the women. One cannot but encounter the fact that gender stereotyping complicates the process of equating the sexes, since the prevailing social expectation still shows the signs of prejudiced opinions in respect of the females.

Slowly Melting Gender Discrepancies

 Despite the fact that the technical progress has resulted in the tendency of equating gender roles and equal engagement of both males and females within the areas of education, medicine, sciences, etc., the women are still considered as predominantly the accountants, caregivers, and teacher. Notwithstanding this fact, it is worth saying that the number of female employees, occupying high posts is much higher in comparison with a decade ago. The statistics states that the female leaders are not the rarity any more, since more and women emerged to take quite serious positions today. Consequently, the modifications within the area of leadership give some optimism; since in the recent time the females become appointed to upper echelons of management more often, it is necessary to make mention of the fact that gender stereotyping undergoes the phase of reinterpretation. All in all, on the other hand, the issue of gender roles in the workplace is still topical and requires much attention to be resolved. The point is that the society still often disregards the potential of females causing many obstacles for the female employees.

Although the 21^st century brought a variety of innovations as well as new constructs, incorporating the idea of equal society, it is still possible to take a view of gender stereotyping. Obviously, the number of female employees within such areas as, for instance, mathematics and engineering is relatively low. Therefore, it is too early to certify the eradication of the effects of gender roles in the workplace. In spite of the fact that radical changes within social awareness of both males and females were rooted, it is necessary to draw attention the prejudiced attitude towards the female employees; apparently, a variety of employers are simply not interested in cooperating with the females due to gender stereotypes that many consider as the major factor of the masculine exclusive right to be the leaders. As it was mentioned above, the tendency of the male’s prevalence within the upper management proves the society to lack the impartiality in terms of judging the modern-day life standards. Obviously, “women’s full participation in the economy and innovation is a long way from being achieved.” (Busolt & Kugele, 2009, p. 110) In any way, the issue of gender roles in the workplace is likely to be entirely eliminated in future.

Conclusion    

To sum up, it becomes apparent that the identification of both sexes appears to be unequal, since the males are traditionally regarded as the leading sex. The society has created the female’s image, which makes her an integral part of housekeeping; as for those willing to occupy some high posts, it is worth mentioning that they are forced to pass through a number of trials so as to demonstrate the area of expertise. Regardless of the societal prejudice and unwillingness to rapidly change the well-established principles of gender roles, one cannot but encounter the thing that today’s tendencies prove the issue of gender roles to be partially exhausted.

It becomes clear that more and more enterprises decide to hire the females providing absolutely equal opportunities of promotion for both sexes; a peculiar thing is that the employers become aware of the additional revenues they are likely to receive in case of recruiting the females. It is important to pay attention the fact that, in accordance with many surveys, the females occur as much more efficient leaders possessing necessary skills to perform the managerial functions. The thing is that “…the gender typing of managers is a phenomenon that tends to be stereotyped itself.” (Willemse, 2002, p. 386) As a result, it is high time to become conscious that the issue of gender roles needs to be finally eradicated from the civilized world, since it can only lead to a downward spiral of business communities. Beyond any doubts, modern-day society has to reinterpret the attitudes towards gender roles, since sex discrimination is the survival of preceding centuries.

References

Busolt, U., & Kugele, K. (2009). The Gender Innovation and Research Productivity Gap in

Europe. International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, 4 (2-3), 109-122. Retrieved fromhttp://www.effinet-hfu.de/fileadmin/dateienEffinet/Dateien/IJISD0402-0302_BUSOLT.pdf

Ely, R J, Ibarra H, Kolb D, (2011). Taking Gender into Account: Theory and Design for

Women’s Leadership Development Programs, Issue: Volume 10 Number 3 September 2011, Academy of Management Learning and Education. Retrieved from http://www.insead.edu/facultyresearch/research/doc.cfm?did=48085

Moram. B. (1992). Gender Differences in Leadership. Library Trends, 40: 475-91. Retrieved from https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/7791/librarytrendsv40i3h_opt.pdf

Willemsen, T.M. (2002). Gender Typing of the Successful Manager: A Stereotype Reconsidered. Sex Roles, 46: 385-391. Retrieved from http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023%2FA%3A1020409429645