Research Paper on Sexuality and Social Inequality

Introduction

Social inequality refers to the imbalance that gives unequal rewards and opportunities to different classes of people within a society. One of the divisive factors that bring this inequality to the fore is sexuality. The sexual orientation of an individual has been a major cause for concern for many nations around the world. Governments have enacted and enforced laws forbidding citizens from engaging in certain sexual acts and identities. The punishment for breaking these laws vary from light fines to the death penalty depending on the country. The societal regulation of sexual orientation is damaging at both national and personal levels since it exposes the concerned individuals to discriminatory treatment.

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The regulation of private and consensual sexual activities between adults in America was outlawed by the US constitution in 2003 after it abolished the sodomy laws. Despite this court ruling, members of the LGBT community have continued to endure a host of problems such as discrimination and violence. It goes to show that sexuality has become a significant source of inequality in a society akin to issues like race, social class, and gender (Barkan). The LGBT individuals do not receive the same legal protection, and rights like other minority groups enjoy. Many countries prohibit same-sex marriages or adoption, and unequal benefits exist at the workplace regarding accessing employment opportunities. Despite many same-sex couples living together, they cannot obtain a marriage certificate like heterosexual couples. In many states, it is legal for an employer to hire and fire an employee from his/her sexual orientation if they wish. Most societies believe in heterosexual marriages, and hence the 'wrong' sexual orientation in these places exposes one to instant stigma, bullying, and potential violence propagated by hate. Teenagers in school have suffered bullying, mistreatment, and even death from colleagues who discriminate against their sexual choices (Barkan).

Economic Disparity and Violence Against Women

Gender inequality is the ideology that assumes that men and women are not equal. This view is evidenced by various traits, and inclinations, in a society that has seen women being treated like inferior sex. The inequality stems from the different roles ascribed to the male and female gender within our communities. A 2017 report by the World Economic Forum indicated that the global gender gap had widened (Koper). The gap is a product of structural and systemic inequality that has elevated the position of the male gender at the expense of the females causing the latter to lag behind in many aspects such as health, education, political power, and economically.

Every 25th of November, the world celebrates the international day of violence elimination among women, which is a sign that it is still a work in progress (Koper). The UN reports that one out of three women worldwide have fallen victim to some form of harassment in the course of their lifetime. According to the UN, violence against women refers to gender-based violence or threats that may result in psychological, physical, or sexual suffering. The threat of violence and deprivation of liberties is also included since it is a factor that has been used to beat down women in society (Hughes et al.). It is an illegal and unethical practice that exerts a huge cost on the community, and hence it must be eliminated.

Women, especially in developing countries, have undergone several injustices such as genital mutilation, early marriages, and sexual harassment (Koper). It is evident that the plight of women is primarily due to their gender, and this has caused them to lag behind economically. The lack of equal access to education and employment opportunities has caused men to advance in arguably all careers and economic activities. Women have also traditionally held the home-making role, and this has added to their being out economic participation in a family setting. Therefore, the violence propagated by men is due to their superior economic position. When employers refuse to hire, respect, and promote the leadership potential among women, they are in effect abusing their power in a discriminatory way (Koper). A practical example of abuse of power is when male employers solicit sexual favors from potential female employees. Some women will unwillingly yield into such requests because getting a stable job has become almost a matter of life and death in today's society. The power asymmetry as created an uneven playing field where men have the upper hand in the economic world and thus have the ability to mete out various forms of violence against women.

Wage Gap and the Feminization of Poverty

The economic disparity between the genders has led to the development of a wage-gap separating the income of men and women. The feminization of poverty refers to emerging trend which shows how households under women are disadvantaged compared to men and married couples. The numbers show this relationship clearly since out of the 1.5 billion people earning under $1 a day, 60% are women. Over 30% of single mothers in America live below the Federal threshold of poverty. The pattern shows that women are more vulnerable to the effects of poverty than any other group (Jain-Chandra).

The wage gap that exists between men and women has helped to exacerbate the situation of women around the world. The systemic discrimination of women from childhood has denied them similar access to education opportunities like the boys. The situation has seen women engaging in less productive, and hence low paying, jobs. In America, women working full-time all year round earn considerably lower on average compared to men working at the same rate (Jain-Chandra). The glass ceiling, coupled with occupational segregation, and gender inequality are still stubborn elements of the labor market since they create this gap. It implies that households headed by women will earn significantly lower than those with men, and thus the quality of life will differ between the two.

The feminization of poverty and the wage gap are both due to the gender inequality, and they result in creating the economic disparity between men and women (Jain-Chandra). The struggle for survival has seen women attempting other means of earning income since no policy changes in wage equality are forthcoming, and neither can they offer instant solutions. Prostitution and nudity have been some of the avenues used by women to earn income for their families. Poverty among women has also been directly linked with trafficking of women who see it as the only way to get out of the quest for survival (Fayomi 70). The high rates of unemployment in developing nations, coupled with the low skill-set of women, means that the informal labor market is increasingly getting filled up with females. Sex work and pornography have lured many of them due to the prospects of higher income than they currently earn. The social problems of gender inequality and discrimination need to be solved urgently to create a level playing field for both men and women.

Works Cited

Barkan, Steven. Social Problems: Continuity and Change. 10th ed. Flat World Knowledge, 2013. Web. 22 Mar. 2018.

Fayomi, O. "Women, Poverty and Trafficking: A Contextual Exposition of The Nigerian Situation." Journal of Management and Social Sciences vol. 5, no. 1, 2009, pp. 65-79. Web. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.530.6164&rep=rep1&type=pdf

Hughes, Christine et al. "Women's Economic Inequality and Domestic Violence: Exploring The Links and Empowering Women." Gender & Development vol. 23, no. 2 2015, pp. 279-297. Web. doi.org/10.1080/13552074.2015.1053216

Jain-Chandra, Sonali. Why Gender and Income Inequality Are Linked. World Economic Forum, 27 October. 2015, www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/10/why-gender-and-income-inequality-are-linked/22 Mar. 2018.

Koper, Natalia. The Economic Gender Gap and Violence Against Women Are Two Sides Of The Same Coin. LifeGate, 24 November. 2017, www.lifegate.com/people/news/global-gender-gap-report-2017. Accessed 22 Mar. 2018.