This is all due to the knock on effect of how women are perceived in society. The stereotypical view that is held by men against women creates a glass ceiling for women in all areas of society which makes it difficult for them to achieve the top positions of employment in all aspects of work.
Throughout the world there is male domination. This goes from every angle of society. Every world leader is a male and this is commonly due to the fact that men gain more respect than women and some men would find it difficult to respect the ideology of a woman. It wasn’t until as recent as the 1980’s that Britain had its first and only female Prime Minister. This is a strong reflection of attitudes towards women in a position of power. Women are seen not to possess the qualities of leadership required to hold such a position of authority. This stereotypical view of women not having these personal qualities prevents women attaining roles of high authority in society.
In other of areas of society there are stereotypical views of women that hinders female progression in society and consequently prevents them obtaining the top jobs and positions of power. In occupations such as the police force the top jobs are male dominated, this is also the same in areas such as doctors and high status jobs in society like judges and lawyers. Therefore this shows a gender domination by males in society as they are in positions with more status and authority within society. This can therefore mean that areas such as policing and the legal system are a means of controlling women in society because they are ruled by men which implies that male ideology will therefore be enforced. It also illustrates that men have the superior positions which enables them to control society. Therefore this can help control women. Through areas such as dealing with the criminal justice system. It can be argued that males are sometimes treated more sympathetically than women, eg. in particular cases such as rape trials. A study previously looking into the treatment of women in criminal cases shows the opinions of judges towards women
“Women who say no don’t always mean no. If she doesn’t want it she only has to keep her legs shut”
Judge Wild 1982
This is a clear indication of the shocking attitudes towards women within the legal system, and that no sympathy was shown at all by the male judge.
Recent surveys broadcasted in Britain show that 37% of males in Britain see rape as the fault of a woman who brings it on herself. Crimes are seen more acceptable to be committed by a man than by a woman. This is clear in some cases that have been committed by both men and women were woman receive a stronger penalty. For example Myra Hindley received a harsher penalty than Ian Brady for their joint involvement in the Moores murders. This is an example how because of the stereotypical view held by society that committing crime is masculine, people in positions of power, who are generally men punish women heavier. This shows again men can manipulate, and control women.
In education there is the view that even before a child starts school, conditioning and sex stereotyping have already begun. This is mainly from the types of play that boys and girls engage in. This creates different aptitudes and attitudes towards girls.
Girls can have their educational aspirations affected through playing with dolls and other types of toys which reinforce the stereotype of women as ‘carers’. Boys are encouraged to be more active than girls and this can be reflected in their attitudes in classrooms. Boys are more likely to play with mechanical toys which helps develop scientific and mechanical skills.
A consequence which can be as a result of early gender stereotyping is that girls may come to attach less value towards education. A study conducted by Sue Sharpe in the 1970’s into a group of mainly working class girls showed that their concerns were ‘love, marriage, husbands, children, and then jobs’. This was interpreted as the values enforced on girls, states that educational importance is low and that they should concentrate on providing a family for a working husband.
Socialization in school also occurs in the form of text books. Text books are generally biased and enforce values of domesticity from a woman’s behalf and have very few women portrayed in them in any other type of role. This value is enforced from the earliest stages of learning to read within school and creates a stereotypical view of the role of women and men in society. There is very little attempt made in pre-school books to widen the horizons for either sex by presenting women in a broad range of jobs. Therefore it is seen as a norm for women to accept a ‘family’ role within society.
Industrialization has also played an important role in defining the ‘typical’ view of a woman’s role in society. Before Britain became an industrialized society women played an important role in both agricultural and the textile industries as well as providing a family. However as Britain began to industrialize and move towards a more urban society. Factories began to replace the family as a production unit. Initially women were involved in work however regulations were placed on the involvement of children in the work place and this therefore placed an emphasis on women to look after the children whilst the male husband worked. This was the ‘women’s role’ because in bearing and early nursing of the child they established a strong relationship. Whereas men didn’t undertake these tasks so therefore the relationship with the child wouldn’t be as strong.
There was a period from 1842-1914 were huge restrictions were placed upon women in the work place. It wasn’t until after the first world war that women were reinstated fully into paid employment. Industrialization has had a major effect on the role of women in society. It firstly separated men from the daily routines of domestic life as they were seen to be the ‘bread winner’. And it also made women and children highly dependent on men economically to provide for them. This implies that in twentieth century British society, the house-wife-mother role has become institutionalized as ‘the primary role for all women’.
Society has always been seen to be stereotypically patriarchal. It is dominated and ruled by men. Men are the ruling class, and women the subject class. Women are seen to be exploited by men as they carry out free labour tasks for men such as childcare and housework. And it can also be argued that women are denied access to positions of power.
There is also the argument that a women’s biology can actually affect their material life. This argument is due to the fact that they give birth and therefore during child birth they are unemployable which can be beneficial to a male seeking an occupation over a woman. This opinion can therefore determine jobs that women can attain and also how employable they are.
In conclusion to the debate that stereotyping does play a role in the social control of women, it is clear that it has a large impact on both cultural and material aspects of women’s lives. In studying the stereotypical views of women in society it is apparent that society portrays them strongly in certain roles. Roles that are exclusive to women and social positions that have been embedded in social thinking for many years.
It is also clear that there is strong domination by males in all areas of society, and that male ideology is therefore enforced throughout society, creating values and images of women to be domesticated and carers. This is evident in education, industry, and the justice system. This bias and ‘superiority’ of men has created a situation where it has become difficult for a woman to gain a position of power and high status in society. Although all recent surveys show that women have outperformed males in education and Britain’s longest serving Prime Minister was in fact female attitudes towards women are reluctant to change from what society sees as there role.
However in a modern day society and with the emergence of more ‘metrosexual’ males, attitudes towards men’s roles in society are beginning to shift. And it is becoming more socially acceptable for a man to do housework and be the ‘carer’ for a child. This could be an indication of progression towards equality for men and women and an end to old fashioned out-dated attitudes towards the role of women in society.
(words 1928)
