Gender Issues: Improving Gender Equity

Gender Issues: Improving Gender Equity

The aspect of gender equity is a fundamental gender issue encompassing the functionalities of different societies across the world. The issue of gender equity affects different social phenomena and the functionality of people in diverse contexts. The capacity to provide fair and equal opportunities is an assurance of the realization of human rights for all. This impacts the establishment of fair societies that accords all its members equal opportunities. However, the issue of gender equity has undermined society from reaching its full potential throughout history. A call for the transformation of social functioning and approach to gender issues is integral to promoting fairness and competitiveness in society. Therefore, in this paper, the thesis statement focuses on discussing key approaches vital towards improving gender equity in society. Hence, it enhances productivity, progress, and realization of sustainable developments.

The focus on improving gender equity is critical to enable society to attain sustainable developments. This is based on the fact that society utilizes its entire human capital towards progressiveness and developments. The capacity to engage every member of society is fundamental to double the development rate that would otherwiseremain dependentent largelyon one gender – men. The utilization of both men and women by giving them equal chances in the access of opportunities sets a course of increasing the development rate. This is attained by committing all members of the society in productive economic activities. Also, it is critical to increasing competitiveness and efficiency in human resources. The workplace is bound to be more productive with the fair treatment of all employees equally. Therefore, the study on the topic is essential to determine ways in which gender equity can be improved to promote equality and fairness.

The topic of gender equity is a highly examined and discussed topic both in the academic and business circles. The paper will utilize three key scholarly articles to expound the topic further. The first article comprises of the “Progress towards gender equality in the United States has slowed or stalled” by England et al. (6990-6997). Paula England is an accomplished author with various publications and has been cited by 24,056 other publications. England is a professor of sociology at the New York University. Andrew Levine is also a professor of sociology in New York University and an accomplished author with several publications. Emma Mishel also works at NYU as a professor and has fewer publications compared to England and Levine and has been cited 91 times. The second article comprises of “Diversity begets diversity: A global perspective on gender equality in scientific leadership” by Potvin et al. (e0197280). The author Potvin works in the School of Science and Engineering, University of Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia; Burdfield-Steel and Heap works at the Center for Excellence in Biological Interactions, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland; and Potvin Jacqueline M. works in the Department of Women’s Studies and Feminist Research, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. The third article entails “Ten strategies to reduce gender inequality at scientific conferences” by Sardelis et al. (231). Sardelis has a total of 2 publications, a master’s degree holder,and works at Columbia University, New York City, United States. Oester has a total of 4 publications and works at George Mason University, Fairfax, United States. Liboiron, on the other hand, has a total of 12 publications and works at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Canada.

Discussion of Gender Equity

The progress of gender equality and equity has stalled in recent decades,comparing the period between 1970 and 2018. England et al. (6990) note that “the percentage of women (age 25 to 54) who are employed rose continuously until 2000 when it reached its highest point to data of 75 percent.” This is attributed to the high number of women receiving baccalaureate and doctorate degrees than men. However, men tend to stay off the family chores, care, and responsibilities as they continue to be largely women dominated. The ‘educated’ woman has, on the other hand has abandoned their traditional chores and family responsibilities in pursuit of advanced education and career objectives. This triggers gender conflicts and instability that are experienced in various fields. In the workplace, women demand more space equal to or more than men triggering a potential backlash. England et al. (6990) argue that there is a profound need “for substantial institutional and cultural changes” to promote gender equity and equality. These are vital aspects where both men and women treat each other fairly as partners in life and promote the need for cooperation. To reduce discrimination in the workplaces as efforts of the stalled achievements in recent decades, the ‘educated’ women and men must be accorded equal opportunities. More involvement of men in family care responsibilities is essential to give women equal access to opportunities to improve their lives (England et al., 6992). Therefore, the promotion of equity is integral to fairness and access to opportunities at the workplace, home, among other avenues.

Potvin et al. (e0197280) emphasize on the significance of “gender inequality as a major issue in academic science, yet academic societies can be depicted as underappreciated and effective avenues for promoting female leadership.” The according to equal opportunities to women in leadership positions is an integral feature of the progressiveness of the society. To increase gender equality in leadership, the provision of self-selective, and board positions for women is fundamental to increase their numbers in the leadership positions. Over the years, this has been efficient in increasing gender equity and equality in leadership positions (Potvin et al. e0197280). However, there is still amiss in the institutional academic leadership for women as compared to representation in society leadership. Different nations and institutions have focused on closing the aspects of the wage gap, implementation of support systems, and updating of the hiring practices to accommodate more gender equality and equity opportunities. The underrepresentation of women in the scientific fields requires more commitments in preparing and training women in science-related subjects. This is critical is fundamental to improve the scientific developments in society as a significant facet of life (Potvin et al. e0197280). Integral developments can be attained through supporting women and their careers, most notably in the sciences, by adopting intrinsic and systemic changes. The capacity to resolve gender equality in scientific society is a major achievement in promoting gender equity in society. This is an assurance of the value of women and the role ofmaking the world a better place. Hence, it cannot be neglected at any point or sphere in life instead of demanding inclusion and creation of avenues where they are given equal opportunities as men.

Sardelis et al. (231) outline critical measures essential to increase the participation of women in scientific conferences. STEM conferences have been marred with gender biases following gender inequality of the members that take part in the international scientific events. Potvin et al. (e0197280) argued for the lack of gender equality in the sciences as women are highly discriminated. Sardelis et al. (231) present the lack of inclusion and gender biases that exist in the STEM conferences. Hence, call upon the need to increase the “participation of women and creation of positive encouragement for professional societies to continue toward gender equity” (Sardelis et al. 231). This can be attained through the ten intervention measures outlined in the article as major approaches towards changing the norms, practices, and cultures of promoting gender inequality. Such include promoting community principles and establishment of code of conduct—the promotion of safety and promotion of diversity programs as significant approaches to attracting diverse participation. The offering travel grants is significant to avoid struggling with one gender that may lack the capacity to travel from one destination to another. The article promotes the “reduction of participation barriers for women scientists at conferences” from different countries to create equal opportunities (Sardelis et al. 231). Thus, it leads to the promotion of gender equity in key areas and fields that have throughout history been male-dominated.

Reflection

The gender equity issue continues to baffle the world to date despite the enormous developments and achievements made in the promotion of human rights and respect for all. The question of gender equity in the society is fundamental to ascertain that both men and women are treated equally in the workplace, employment opportunities, academic circles, and scientific developments. The approach to gender equity focuses on promoting a fairground for both men and women in society. This comprises different undertakings that seek the inclusion of both females and males equally. All genders need equal opportunities to progress and advance their course. In turn, impact in the establishment of a better world that treats all human beings fairly and equally. Gender equality is integral to gender equity as it advances access to equal opportunities and life changes. The respective gender, either male or female, ought to promote each other leading to the development of the world. Such practices can be promoted through closing the gap used to offer different payments based on gender. Gender pay gaps should be completely abolished to promote fairness and just society to both men and women. Also, elimination of gender harassment is integral to the realization of gender equity objectives. Such can be attained through empowerment for all in society. Women as the most discriminated should be accorded equal opportunities and facilitated to rise to the same status as men in society.

Furthermore, education is the root for future gender equity and equality for future developments in society. Be it in the sciences or any other field; women hold equality potential for men to achieve greatness in life. It is fundamental for the promotion of gender equality and equity to realize a fair world. Dhatt et al. (e8) note that “gender equity is imperative to the attainment of healthy lives and wellbeing of all.” The inclusion of all in different aspects of society is fundamental to build capacity and extensive solutions to the problems undermining social development. Human beings are the most significant and crucial asset the world has and sets the course for potentially sustainable developments. The capacity to fully utilize all human assets is crucial for the wellbeing of societies and the world at large. Deliberate efforts should be made to ascertain the promotion, protection, and embedment of gender equity and equality are critical features of the culture and norms. Gender inequality stands no chance in the twenty-first century that is focused on enormous technological advancements. This asserts the need for all human beings to be part and parcel of the extensive developments and progress made in the word. Thus, it promotes the adoption of gender equity in all endeavors of communities and the world.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the articles emphasize the significance of gender equity and equality. The issue of gender equity is a fundamental feature critical to the realization of a fair and just society and the world at large. The analysis of the articles illustrates the stalling of gender equity and equality gains in the recent decade. This is attributed to the increase of the ‘educated’ woman who has neglected their traditions family care roles and responsibilities. There is a profound need to share family care roles between men and women to build fairness from the basic unit of society. Also, the inclusion of all genders in academic and scientific fields has mainly been lacking as it has been witnessed in the leadership sphere. Gender biases are a major problem undermining the participation of science conferences in which denies women equal opportunities to men. This calls for supporting women in career development, science conferences and participation, and creating a fair treatment for all. This impacts in the realization of the full potential of the human race by utilizing all its members. Therefore, gender equity and equality are crucial issues that should be promoted across all societies in the world.

Works Cited

Dhatt, Roopa, et al. “The role of women’s leadership and gender equity in leadership and health system strengthening.” Global Health, Epidemiology and Genomics 2 (2017).

England, Paula, Andrew Levine, and Emma Mishel. “Progress toward gender equality in the United States has slowed or stalled.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 117.13 (2020): 6990-6997.

Potvin, Dominique A., et al. “Diversity begets diversity: A global perspective on gender equality in scientific society leadership.” PloS one 13.5 (2018): e0197280.

Sardelis, Stephanie, Samantha Oester, and Max Liboiron. “Ten strategies to reduce gender inequality at scientific conferences.” Frontiers in Marine Science 4 (2017): 231.