GENDER RELATIONSGENDER RELATIONS

By Tasveen & HeatherBy Tasveen & Heather

IntroductionIntroduction Chapter focuses on how relationships of inequality are Chapter focuses on how relationships of inequality are

constructed, expressed, maintained and challenged.constructed, expressed, maintained and challenged. Individuals express an interest in the cultural meaning of Individuals express an interest in the cultural meaning of

womanhood and manhood as they vary over time and place.womanhood and manhood as they vary over time and place. Biology may determine our sex as male or female, but Biology may determine our sex as male or female, but

culture shapes what is perceived as male or female.culture shapes what is perceived as male or female.Problems that occurred: Problems that occurred: A)A) Women and children regarded as male propertyWomen and children regarded as male propertyB)B) Rape within marriage was dismissed as a contradiction in Rape within marriage was dismissed as a contradiction in

termstermsC)C) Women criticized for undermining family values when Women criticized for undermining family values when

gainfully employedgainfully employed

FRAMING THE PROBLEMFRAMING THE PROBLEM Many books and articles were being published in the mid Many books and articles were being published in the mid

1900s to raise consciousness about gender relations. 1900s to raise consciousness about gender relations. It was known as a “problem with no name.”It was known as a “problem with no name.” Books such as “The Second Sex” reinforced the perception of Books such as “The Second Sex” reinforced the perception of

women as second class citizens whose worth and work women as second class citizens whose worth and work suffered because of a male dominated world.suffered because of a male dominated world.

1951 article published by Helen Mayer Hacker framed women 1951 article published by Helen Mayer Hacker framed women as a “minority.”as a “minority.”

Article informs about discriminatory practices at educational, Article informs about discriminatory practices at educational, economic, political & social levelseconomic, political & social levels

““The Feminine Mystique” published in 1963 really started to The Feminine Mystique” published in 1963 really started to get people thinking.get people thinking.

TRANSFORMATION IN GENDER TRANSFORMATION IN GENDER RELATIONSRELATIONS

BEFOREBEFORE Achievements and contributions were undervaluedAchievements and contributions were undervalued Regulating to lesser-paying jobsRegulating to lesser-paying jobs Ghettoizing them into less prestigious corporate domainsGhettoizing them into less prestigious corporate domains Excluding women from positions of powerExcluding women from positions of power

AFTERAFTER Women are occupying the corridors of power at both economic and political levelsWomen are occupying the corridors of power at both economic and political levels Growing number of women in paid workGrowing number of women in paid work Going into occupations traditionally perceived as maleGoing into occupations traditionally perceived as male Income gap between men and women is closing in as well, but slowlyIncome gap between men and women is closing in as well, but slowly Single, university-educated women are doing as well as their male counterpartsSingle, university-educated women are doing as well as their male counterparts Girls performance in school is drawing attention to a pending crisis in male Girls performance in school is drawing attention to a pending crisis in male

performance, if these trends continue performance, if these trends continue Women are now deciding if and when to have children with more concentration on Women are now deciding if and when to have children with more concentration on

their careers their careers

PROGRESS YES, EQUALITY NOPROGRESS YES, EQUALITY NO

Women are still taken less seriously, judged on the basis of Women are still taken less seriously, judged on the basis of what they look like, rather than what they dowhat they look like, rather than what they do

Assumed to excel as caregivers rather than money-makersAssumed to excel as caregivers rather than money-makers Stereotypes still persist Stereotypes still persist Women : passive, emotionally “soft” & obsessed with Women : passive, emotionally “soft” & obsessed with

appearancesappearances Men: assertive, ambitious, competitive & goal-orientedMen: assertive, ambitious, competitive & goal-oriented

GENDER CRISISGENDER CRISIS Women may be living longer than menWomen may be living longer than men Men now are experiencing as much perplexity as women in redefining who Men now are experiencing as much perplexity as women in redefining who

they are, what they can do, & what they can get away withthey are, what they can do, & what they can get away with Men are no longer central as hunters & providers in the lives of women Men are no longer central as hunters & providers in the lives of women

and children, the legitimacy of manhood has sufferedand children, the legitimacy of manhood has suffered Discriminatory public policy initiatives have disconnected men from Discriminatory public policy initiatives have disconnected men from

significant involvement in family life.significant involvement in family life. The situation also looks pretty grim on the genetic sideThe situation also looks pretty grim on the genetic side Bryan Sykes a professor of human genetics at Oxford Uni. states that not Bryan Sykes a professor of human genetics at Oxford Uni. states that not

only are men genetically modified women, but the male chromosome is only are men genetically modified women, but the male chromosome is decaying at a rapid rate because of molecular damage, that men run the risk decaying at a rapid rate because of molecular damage, that men run the risk of extinction.of extinction.

GENDER CRISISGENDER CRISIS Many of the attributes once negatively associated with feminism are now Many of the attributes once negatively associated with feminism are now

perceived as strengths perceived as strengths Female style is no longer dismissed, but is increasingly valued as a Female style is no longer dismissed, but is increasingly valued as a

preferred style in the teamwork oriented workplace environmentpreferred style in the teamwork oriented workplace environment The caring, cooperative & more empathetic world of women would replace The caring, cooperative & more empathetic world of women would replace

male-dominated hierarchies based on power, violence & aggressionmale-dominated hierarchies based on power, violence & aggression However Canadian society continues to be organized around male interests However Canadian society continues to be organized around male interests

& priorities & women must work within a framework that reflects, & priorities & women must work within a framework that reflects, reinforces & advances male interests.reinforces & advances male interests.

The forces of change & diversity have been relentless & disruptiveThe forces of change & diversity have been relentless & disruptive Confusion is so pervasive because of perceived unfairness & perceptions Confusion is so pervasive because of perceived unfairness & perceptions

of double standardsof double standards

GENDER CRISISGENDER CRISIS For example, why is it that the violence of women in domestic relations is For example, why is it that the violence of women in domestic relations is

treated less harshly by the legal system than male violence?treated less harshly by the legal system than male violence? ANSWER: because men and women are not equal in a violent relationship ANSWER: because men and women are not equal in a violent relationship

since the physical and economic consequences are potentially more serious since the physical and economic consequences are potentially more serious for women than for menfor women than for men

How do we justify women-only clubs? – from health spas to golf How do we justify women-only clubs? – from health spas to golf clubhouses – yet the Augusta National Golf Club is severely criticized for clubhouses – yet the Augusta National Golf Club is severely criticized for not allowing female members? not allowing female members?

ANSWER: in a patriarchal society, women-only & men-only are not the ANSWER: in a patriarchal society, women-only & men-only are not the same thing. Feminists argue that men are trying to monopolize power same thing. Feminists argue that men are trying to monopolize power while women are trying to gain power while creating safe space in a while women are trying to gain power while creating safe space in a society that disdains female culturesociety that disdains female culture

DIVIDING WORLD INTO DIVIDING WORLD INTO MALE/FEMALEMALE/FEMALE

Every society imposes different meanings upon women & menEvery society imposes different meanings upon women & men Feminism has helped in expanding options & choices for Feminism has helped in expanding options & choices for

women in contemporary societywomen in contemporary society But social practices are not always kept pace with cultural But social practices are not always kept pace with cultural

beliefsbeliefs Canadians are increasingly unsure of how to embrace change Canadians are increasingly unsure of how to embrace change

in gender roles, rules, status & relationshipsin gender roles, rules, status & relationships Traditional rules about gender relationships no longer seem Traditional rules about gender relationships no longer seem

applicableapplicable According to the Worlds Values Survey 1995-2001, According to the Worlds Values Survey 1995-2001,

commitment to gender equality is highly valued in many parts commitment to gender equality is highly valued in many parts of the worldof the world

DIVIDING WORLD INTO DIVIDING WORLD INTO MALE/FEMALEMALE/FEMALE

But persistence & pervasiveness of gender inequality persists But persistence & pervasiveness of gender inequality persists even in societies that aspire to equity between women & meneven in societies that aspire to equity between women & men

Men and women are differently situated economically and Men and women are differently situated economically and politically because of unequal access to cultural and material politically because of unequal access to cultural and material resources that defines who gets whatresources that defines who gets what

Women represent about half the world’s population, & Women represent about half the world’s population, & perform nearly 67% of the work, but earn about 10% of the perform nearly 67% of the work, but earn about 10% of the income, & own less than 1% of the propertyincome, & own less than 1% of the property

GENDER RELATIONS IN GENDER RELATIONS IN CANADACANADA

In a UN Development Programme survey of selected countries In a UN Development Programme survey of selected countries ranked according to the Gender Empowerment Measure in ranked according to the Gender Empowerment Measure in 2001, Canada came in 52001, Canada came in 5thth

Canada’s score of 0.783 meant that Canadian women are Canada’s score of 0.783 meant that Canadian women are about 4/5 of the way to equality with menabout 4/5 of the way to equality with men

This was based on women’s share of parliamentary seats, This was based on women’s share of parliamentary seats, proportion of administrative, professional & managerial jobs, proportion of administrative, professional & managerial jobs, & the amount of women’s earning power& the amount of women’s earning power

EMPLOYMENT STATUSEMPLOYMENT STATUS 46.7% of Canada’s labourforce is comprised of women according to 2001 46.7% of Canada’s labourforce is comprised of women according to 2001

census datacensus data This is an increase compared to 45% of the workforce in 1991This is an increase compared to 45% of the workforce in 1991 Nearly 58% of adult women were in paid-employment compared to only Nearly 58% of adult women were in paid-employment compared to only

24% in 195024% in 1950 # of women in info-technology jobs has doubled to 110 000 from 61 000# of women in info-technology jobs has doubled to 110 000 from 61 000 There is a gendered division of labour because women continue to There is a gendered division of labour because women continue to

concentrate in 4 occupations – elementary teaching, nursing/health related concentrate in 4 occupations – elementary teaching, nursing/health related jobs, secretaries & office clerks, or retail/servicesjobs, secretaries & office clerks, or retail/services

While women are making major advances in their careers, they spend more While women are making major advances in their careers, they spend more time then their male partners in looking after children & houseworktime then their male partners in looking after children & housework

In 2001 census data it showed that 15% of women did 30 or more hours of In 2001 census data it showed that 15% of women did 30 or more hours of unpaid family related work compared to 6% of menunpaid family related work compared to 6% of men

INCOME EARNINGSINCOME EARNINGS

Overall women earn about 61% of what men earnOverall women earn about 61% of what men earn Women in full time full-year employment earn around 0.70 for Women in full time full-year employment earn around 0.70 for

every dollar a man earnsevery dollar a man earns Single woman earn 95.5% of what single men earn and Single woman earn 95.5% of what single men earn and

married women earn 67.5% of what married men earnmarried women earn 67.5% of what married men earn Young female graduates earned more than young male Young female graduates earned more than young male

graduates but in only one occupation – social workgraduates but in only one occupation – social work

EDUCATIONEDUCATION

Girls are outperforming boys across the board in math, writing Girls are outperforming boys across the board in math, writing & reading in Ontario primary schools& reading in Ontario primary schools

Young women make up 58% of university graduates, up from Young women make up 58% of university graduates, up from 52% a decade ago52% a decade ago

Faculties such as computer science & engineering still remain Faculties such as computer science & engineering still remain overwhelmingly male, while women tend to graduate more overwhelmingly male, while women tend to graduate more from the disciplines of arts & social sciencesfrom the disciplines of arts & social sciences

Theories continue to circulate that girls brains are hard-wired Theories continue to circulate that girls brains are hard-wired very differently then boys, with the result that only a small very differently then boys, with the result that only a small percentage of women become engineerspercentage of women become engineers

DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.1. How powerful is the media in the way that How powerful is the media in the way that they portray men and women? Does the they portray men and women? Does the media speak with one voice about media speak with one voice about masculinity and femininity?masculinity and femininity?

2.2. Is there more tension between genders today Is there more tension between genders today than 30 years ago?than 30 years ago?