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English 111 G/H Rhetoric
and Composition
Sample E4
Changing Socialization
Newsweek
Even
though female participation in the United States labor force
has increased steadily and dramatically in the last half of the
century, women entering the workforce find that their employment
prospects are limited by the "glass ceiling" in ways
that those of men are not. The "glass ceiling" is a
term used to describe this invisible barrier which women come
in contact with when working up the corporate ladder. This form
of discrimination has been depicted by Stephanie Chaffins as
a "barrier so subtle that it is transparent, yet so strong
that it prevents women from moving up in the hierarchy."
It has been evident in both position and pay within companies
and organizations.
Perhaps
the greatest reason that women are discriminated against in the
workplace concerns the socialization of female and male dealing
with gender roles. Parents generally rear their children to conform
to the roles that they are expected to perform in society. Boys
are given trucks, blocks, video games, etc. to play with. Girls,
on the other hand, usually play with dolls, dress up clothes,
and dishes. This separation of boys and girls causes society
to associate each with different gender roles. Parents tend to
socialize girls to be more passive, nurturing, and submissive,
while boys are taught to be more aggressive and dominating.
Due
to this socialization, stereotypical views based on gender are
formed. Women and men are both channeled into different, sex-typed
jobs. Women are encouraged to seek employment in keeping with
their presumed nature such as in nursing and childcare. Stereotypical
thinking in organizations leads to discrimination through institutionalized
personnel procedures governing the recruitment, allocation, and
retention of workers. It also affects women’s career development
and performance evaluation.
Women
are often socialized to believe they are not suited for "male
oriented" positions. They find difficulty in overcoming
these cultural norms out of the fear of being seen as different.
Since women have been taught to develop less confidence, less
independence, and lower self-esteem, they tend to devalue their
own skills and intelligence, just as others do. Therefore, they
do not attempt to reach these high levels of positions out of
guilt, uncertainty, or anxiety.
In
order to permanently break the glass ceiling, the socialization
of male and female children must be changed. Parents and educators
should not separate boys and girls into stereotypical roles.
Girls should be allowed and encouraged to play with trucks, building
blocks, and action figures just like boys are. They should not
be restrained to playing in the kitchen with dolls and dishes.
Some people may believe that girls should not play with boys’
toys, but girls need to learn at an early age that they are equal
to boys, and that they can be what they wish in this competitive
world.
Furthermore,
toy companies should also get out of the cultural norm and make
more toys such as Barbie dolls depicted as doctors with medical
bags, business women with briefcases, scientists with laboratory
sets, etc. With this, girls will learn that women are not just
meant to wear pretty clothes, shop, have children, and cook.
On the contrary, people may think that these changes will not
make a difference on the stereotypical views of women. However,
girls will be able to realize they are no different from boys
and can accomplish anything they desire. Moreover, parents should
encourage their daughters to be more independent, value their
achievement, and avoid overprotecting them. Appropriate and encouraging
childhood direction from parents will give females an equal opportunity
to pursue goals they were previously discouraged from.
All
these actions taken by society will produce women with attitudes
of competence and the ability and desire to succeed. With the
changes of the socialization of both boys and girls, society
as a whole will no longer view women as being unequal or inferior
to men. Women will be able to equally advance in their careers
and be just as successful as men. We can have a world where women
and men are not seen as male and female, but as equal individuals.
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Copyright 1997 Department of English |
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New Mexico State University |
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Use only with permission |
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