Gender gap can constitute a wide variety of meaning and interpretations in today’s society. Whether in attitudes, treatment, wage, voting, or many more categories, the gender gap is present in almost all factions of life starting from a very early age. An article discussing the prominence of the gender gap, “The Gender Gap: Are We Teaching Our Daughters To Earn Less?”, references a study done by the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation showing that the gender gap is just as bad now as it ever has been. Although it is often unintentional, the current structure of our society allows and almost promotes the existence of a gender gap in nearly all aspects of daily life.
This gap between men and women seems to be taught and set in stone for children during their schooling years. Teachers seem to have a tendency of calling on male students more often then female students, especially in those subjects areas our society views as typically male (math and science). This occurrence, known as quiet discrimination, can undermine a girl’s belief and self-confidence and ultimately steer her away from certain career path she may have once preferred. Happenings such as this one serve to widen the gender gap even more.
Throughout primary and secondary schooling as well as during college and beyond, the gender gap is present. In the job market the gap is seen in the percentage of men and women in the labor force, the types of occupations they choose, and their relative income and wages. In 2000 only 76 percent of women were in the labor force while 93 percent of men were participating in the labor force. However, income and earnings is one of the most prominent examples that demonstrate that the gender gap is still in existence and going strong. The more hours a female works, the less she earns in comparison to her male counterpart. In addition, from the 1980s to present day women’s earnings rose from about 60 to 70 percent of what men make.
Evidently, most article and studies have discovered that no place in the world has successfully been able to remove the gender gap. The gender gap can be detrimental to girls and women, causing them to experience gaps from men in ways including self-esteem and expectation.
Interestingly enough, for the first time last year, women earned more than half of the degrees granted statewide in Minnesota. In the United States there are more men than women between 18 and 24; however, there is a 43/57 male-female ratio on campus today. It is said that as girls and women start coming forward and their numbers increase, the number of men decline on college campuses. In general, there is supposed declining percentage of men on college campuses.
All in all, despite this final study, women and girls are still experiencing the downside to the gender gap whether it be income, schooling, or expectation. It gives women unequal opportunity starting from as early as elementary school and following them throughout life. Society draws a line between men and women and everything related to gender. There are certain qualities and personalities along with appearances and likes and dislikes that society deems appropriate for each gender, which puts men in front of women in almost all situations.
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EK6Y1X_xa4&feature=player_embedded#
Related Articles:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091008113306.htm
http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/GenderGap.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2005-10-19-male-college-cover_x.htm
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