Equality in various areas such as race, age, sex, and other factors is globally sought after.
The issue of gender equality is a global concern, with varying opinions on women's treatment. Some believe women are still seen as inferior, others argue progress has been made and discrimination is no longer an issue, while some acknowledge progress but advocate for further action. These conflicting views require further analysis to reach a conclusion.
One significant example often cited as proof of discrimination is the workplace, particularly the "glass ceiling" concept. This term refers to the invisible barrier that hinders women's career advancement within an organization, limiting their growth opportunities. This phenomenon is evident today. For instance, a recent survey by "Time Magazine" revealed that only two out of America's top 100 richest companies
have female CEOs. In the UK, this number is merely five.
The impact of the glass ceiling extends beyond positions; pay inequality also acts as a barrier for some. An instance can be found in an American company where the CEO is male while his deputy holds a female position.
The company's data reveals that the CEO earns an average of $600,000 per year, while the woman earns only $150,000 in the same time period. This disparity is also present nationwide, as a recent survey shows that men in middle-tier office positions earn an average of $85,000 per year compared to women who earn just $60,000. These statistics highlight a clear gender inequality in the workplace.
However, this gap has significantly changed over the past few decades due to an increase in female employees. In the UK alone, there are currently 192,580 women employed in IT jobs—a 33
rise from last year's figures. Moreover, the number of women pursuing high-paying jobs with salaries exceeding ?40,000 annually has tripled in the last ten years and is expected to grow by another sixth over the next two years.
There has been a notable improvement in the portrayal of women's achievements in the workplace and their recognition. According to BBC data, out of thirty-two consultants on Holby City and Casualty, twenty-five were women, indicating an increasing acknowledgement of women as top earners. Additionally, there has been a significant decrease in workplace sexual harassment complaints, with a reported 50% reduction last year compared to the previous year. These factors collectively demonstrate gradual progress towards achieving gender equality.
Sports also highlight perceived discrimination, particularly regarding pay disparities. Wimbledon serves as a prime example where female tennis players have long expressed grievances about unequal compensation for their accomplishments compared to male players who receive substantially higher remuneration.
In 2008, both the men's and women's singles champions at Wimbledon were awarded ?700,000 as prize money, while the runners-up received ?350,000 each. This demonstrates a positive change in the treatment of women in sports by promoting equal pay. However, there are still areas where progress is lacking; for example, Formula One lacks women drivers. Furthermore, sports that prominently feature women receive significantly less media coverage. For instance, during the period of 2007-10, Premier League football rights were acquired for ?2.7 billion and four matches were televised live every weekend. In contrast, women's football only receives coverage for four matches per year held at League grounds instead of prestigious venues like Wembley and Millennium Stadium.
While women in sports may have a lower visibility, it would
be incorrect to claim that they face discrimination. This is exemplified at Wimbledon where the wage difference can be considered fair due to differences in the match format. Men compete in a maximum of five sets per match, whereas women play only three sets. Moreover, during the initial rounds of Wimbledon, around 60% of women's matches consist of two sets, while only 43% of men's matches fulfill the minimum requirement of three sets.
In conclusion, discrimination in pay can be seen as targeting men now, as women receive a higher hourly wage for playing tennis, which is considered discriminatory. Additionally, there are no restrictions on women drivers participating in Formula One; the issue is simply a lack of female representation in the sport to gain prominence. Lastly, from an economic standpoint, the expense of opening and operating Wembley stadium for a single game is over ?5 million. On average, the attendance for the women's FA Cup Final is only 29,765 individuals, slightly more than a quarter of Wembley's capacity.
Using a large stadium for this event is not economically viable. Therefore, what may appear as discrimination is actually a matter of economic sense, which is especially valuable at this time. Another important point to consider is media representation, specifically regarding crime and fashion. In the fashion industry, women are portrayed as beautiful only if they are extremely thin, sometimes even too thin, blond, and dressed in revealing clothing. This discrimination goes deeper, as models are often rejected if they do not meet a certain size requirement. For example, one model was dismissed because she gained just one pound from the weight she had when she applied and
got the job, even though her initial weight was only 7 stone. Furthermore, the media's portrayal of women and crime is a significant issue. Last year, there were 93 reported cases of rape and domestic violence in all major national newspapers.
Despite 6% of the cases featuring women as the victim in both abuse and rape instances, a survey conducted by the charity NCDV, National Centre for Domestic Violence, discovered a different distribution with women accounting for 57% of the victims. This brings up the issue of media coverage focusing solely on female cases. Similar trends can be seen in rape cases, where the ratio of female to male victims is 64-36, questioning the lack of attention given to violence against males. However, discrimination against men extends beyond media coverage of abuse as custody battles pertaining to children is also a major concern.
Last year, women won custody of children in the majority (74%) of court cases, leaving many men without custody. In divorce proceedings, men are more likely to lose both their home and children compared to women (1 in 3 versus 1 in 6). Additionally, there is a noticeable inequality in the attention given to testicular and prostate cancer when compared to breast and cervical cancer. Despite successful scanning systems for breast and cervical cancer, the mortality rates for testicular and prostate cancer remain alarmingly high.
A Market Opinion and Research International (MORI) survey showed that violence levels differ between genders. The poll found that 13% of women admitted to experiencing domestic violence, while the figure for men was slightly higher at 18%. It is worth mentioning that this survey was conducted on a voluntary and
independent basis. These findings highlight the existence of discrimination against men, which should not be overlooked. Overall, women continue to face unequal treatment compared to men.
Despite advancements, gender discrimination persists in multiple domains including employment and athletics. Nevertheless, there is presently a stronger emphasis on addressing and remedying this imbalance compared to endeavors aimed at diminishing discrimination against men. It is crucial to ensure equitable treatment between genders while also maintaining a just approach that avoids excessive compensation in the opposite direction.
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