Question

6. Given that there are more women in the labor force, more women holding advanced degrees, how does one explain the persistence of gender inequality? Be sure to discuss the effects of patriarchy, sexism, the glass ceiling, gender roles

Answer 1

There are several reasons that might explain the existence of gender inequality. The overall structure responsible for this is called the patriarchy. The patriarchy is a social system under which society operates, which gives more value to things associated with men, while minimizing the contribution of females. This system is responsible for the discriminatory patterns that we see at work or at home, which are called sexism.

A consequence of the patriarchy is that people are encouraged to maintain traditional gender roles. These roles associate women with the house, domesticity, and the raising of children. On the other hand, men are seen as required to seek success outside of the home. Even when women want to stray from this path, their success in their career is often limited by a "glass ceiling," as many industries do not allow women to rise as easily as men. All of these factors contribute to the persistence of gender inequality.