Do we live in a man’s world?
Throughout the years, gender roles have changed from being completely obvious, with women maintaining the household and children, while men became the breadwinner by working to keep their family fed. This has now changed to a society where roles have become blurred and many families have swapped or share roles.
Equal rights between men and women has become a largely debatable topic between people of all ages and many have strong opinions over the subject. An analysis of recent working figures has revealed that the number of men working is currently at 77% and the number of women working is at 66%. So even though more women are joining the working world and changing the original gender roles, which have been followed for centuries, this doesn’t mean that women have overcome all obstacles in the workplace.
When housewife Tracy Edwards, who previously worked as a cashier and sales assistant in a clothing shop, was asked about whether she felt her gender would stop her from achieving her goals if she was to re-enter the workplace, she had this to say: “No, not if I wanted it, but it is more of a man’s world out there than a woman’s. There are more men in higher positions than women and it has been that way for years, but I suppose if you want that goal, you would achieve it eventually” she continued on, “I suppose it’s dependent on the job role you apply for”
However, Jeanette Lane disagrees: “I am currently the owner and boss of a hair salon and in terms of being female; I do not generally feel stereotyped. I personally don’t feel any aspects of my job are dependent on my gender, it is much more about my knowledge, capabilities and creativity to be able to fulfil what the client wants when in the salon”
But are women who are seen to be sticking to old fashioned stereotypes by instead choosing to stay at home and look after their children, choosing to do so as it was what they grew up knowing and they decided to adapt it into their own family life?
Mrs Edwards disagreed: “If I wanted to, I would go back to work, but I believe that my children are more important. To me a lot of the children with parents, who go to work, go off the rails because I don’t think they have the support of a responsible adult and some don’t have the support of someone there”
When discussing this subject with women, both employed and unemployed, many of them felt that there were times of slight discrimination against their sex in the workplace. However, they all agreed it’s never generally shown but instead implied towards them with the refusal of particular jobs which men in the same work role as them would be able to complete.
Shift Manager and Accountant at a clothing store, Julie Pinchen told us about her own workplace: “where I work, men and women do the same job” but in other workplaces, she knows of “there is a lot of women now, who do jobs that only men were allowed to do in the past, I do believe there should be equal opportunities”
Mrs Lane agrees: “I have worked all my life and I haven’t seen anything different, I have been my own boss for a number of years and I think if women wish to have job roles then they should. Times may be harder now than years ago but I can’t say it’s more appropriate. Women should have job roles if they want them”
So there you have it, the discussion of equal rights and changes in gender roles is far from over, but from this small discussion we have seen that people have differences of opinions over this particular, yet large subject, but are all agreed that women should have equal rights throughout life, but especially within the workplace. But the questions still remain: will we ever have complete equal rights between men and women? And where will the exchange of gender roles stop? And will the change of gender roles become too blurred for society in the future?
By Rebecca Edwards
What are gender roles? and how do we conform and stray from them and what is seen as ‘normal’?
50 50 Magazine
We have teamed up with 50/50 magazine who specialise in looking at gender roles!
“We at 50/50 believe in equality for all, no matter your gender. Often there are roles in society that are stereotyped by society for a particular gender. Society often stipulates that a man can’t do a what a woman can do and vice versa.
Here at 50/50 we say NO to this. It doesn’t matter about your sexuality, as a man you can be that Stay At Home Dad and as a woman you can be a strong independent business woman. 50/50 want to challenge your thoughts and get you to think outside the box and see individuals for their skills and not their sexuality in terms of gender.
50/50 had the privilege to talk to various individuals and talk to you to get your thoughts. We believe in a world of equality. That’s why we are called 50/50”
You can read the entire 50/50 magazine free of charge online via this link;
http://www.joomag.com/magazine/fifty-fifty-50-50-may-2013/0062299001367579012
SexYOUality Magazine 