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Unlock This CourseGender is one of the most significant factors that affects our life chances. The opportunities, limitations and expectations placed on us can vary dramatically depending on whether we are male, female, or non-binary. Let's explore how gender shapes our lives from birth and influences the paths available to us.
Key Definitions:
From the moment we're born, gender begins to influence our lives. Think about it - pink for girls, blue for boys, different toys, different expectations. These early experiences are just the beginning of how gender affects our life chances.
From an early age, children learn what society expects from them based on their gender. Girls might be encouraged to be caring and nurturing, while boys might be encouraged to be strong and competitive. This socialisation happens through:
Stereotypes about what men and women "should" be like can limit opportunities:
These stereotypes can influence subject choices, career paths and even how people are treated in the workplace.
Education is a key area where gender affects life chances. While there have been significant improvements in gender equality in education, differences still exist in subject choices and experiences.
In the UK today, girls generally outperform boys in most GCSE subjects. However, there are still significant differences in the subjects students choose to study:
Girls are more likely to choose:
Boys are more likely to choose:
More women than men now attend university in the UK. However, gender divisions persist in degree subjects:
These choices have significant impacts on future careers and earnings.
Gender divisions are even more pronounced in vocational training:
The workplace is where gender inequality often becomes most visible, affecting income, career progression and work-life balance.
Despite equal pay legislation, women in the UK still earn less than men on average. In 2021, the gender pay gap for full-time employees was 7.9%. This means that for every £1 the average man earned, the average woman earned about 92p.
Why does this gap exist?
Two important concepts help explain gender inequality in the workplace:
The invisible barrier that prevents women from reaching top positions in organisations. Despite making up nearly half the workforce, women hold only:
The forces that keep women in low-paid, low-mobility jobs with little opportunity for advancement. Women are overrepresented in:
One of the most significant factors affecting women's life chances is the unequal distribution of unpaid work and caring responsibilities.
Sociologist Arlie Hochschild coined the term "the second shift" to describe the household and childcare duties that many women perform after their paid workday ends. UK time-use surveys show:
This unpaid work limits women's ability to pursue career advancement, education and leisure activities, affecting their overall life chances.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted and worsened many gender inequalities:
This case study shows how existing gender inequalities can be amplified during times of crisis.
While gender inequality persists, it's important to recognise the significant progress that has been made:
Important legislation has helped reduce gender discrimination:
Social attitudes about gender roles have changed significantly:
It's crucial to understand that gender doesn't affect everyone in the same way. The concept of intersectionality recognises that gender interacts with other factors like ethnicity, social class, disability and sexuality to create unique experiences of advantage or disadvantage.
For example:
Gender remains a powerful factor shaping our opportunities and experiences throughout life. While significant progress has been made toward gender equality, persistent inequalities in education, employment, income and unpaid work continue to affect life chances. Understanding these patterns helps us recognise and challenge the barriers that limit individuals based on gender.