Gender InequalityGender Inequality

SociologySociology

SexismSexism

► The belief that one sex The belief that one sex is inferior to the other is inferior to the other sex.sex.

► Prevalent in societies Prevalent in societies that are patriarchalthat are patriarchal

► Occupational sex Occupational sex segregation.segregation.

29% of all Lawyers are 29% of all Lawyers are women.women.

Women occupy nearly all Women occupy nearly all of the “pink collar” jobs.of the “pink collar” jobs.

Global PerspectivesGlobal Perspectives

►70% of the 1.3 billion people (absolute 70% of the 1.3 billion people (absolute poverty) worldwide are women and poverty) worldwide are women and childrenchildren

►Two-thirds of the 960 million illiterate Two-thirds of the 960 million illiterate adults are womenadults are women

►Most of the world’s 20 million refugees Most of the world’s 20 million refugees are womenare women

Is there a wage??Is there a wage??

►Conflict Perspective Sociologists: Conflict Perspective Sociologists: argue that there is a “wage gap”. argue that there is a “wage gap”.

►The wage gap is a statistical indicator often used as an index of the status of women's earnings relative to men's.

Is there a wage gap?Is there a wage gap?

►According to Conflict Perspective: On average, women continue to earn considerably less than men. In 2013, female full-time workers made only 78 cents for every dollar earned by men, a gender wage gap of 22 percent.

Why is there a wage gap?Why is there a wage gap?

►sex discrimination in the workplace:►The work women do is less valued overallThe work women do is less valued overall►The higher number of women in the The higher number of women in the

occupation, the lower the wages.occupation, the lower the wages.►sexual harassment also constitutes wage

discrimination. After long and repeated sexual harassment, women leave or lose their jobs, potential raises, & promotions.

LawsLaws

►Family and Medical Leave Act (1993)Family and Medical Leave Act (1993)►Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (2009):

The act states that the 180-day statute of limitations for filing an equal-pay lawsuit regarding pay discrimination resets with each new paycheck affected by that discriminatory action. 

►President Obama: first act that he President Obama: first act that he signed into law.signed into law.