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Class Analysis Gender Inequality

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In the wake of critical scrutiny from the polemic works of Bauman (2004), Beck (2000), and Giddens (1992), the relevance of class analysis in understanding the expression of inequalities in contemporary society has been called into question. The concept of class analysis postulates that “individuals’ interest, tastes, attitudes, and dispositions, are linked to their social economic class positions” (Eidlin, 2014, 1), and that this position in turn relegates conditions of social, cultural and political relations. The foremost criticism level at traditional disciplines of class analysis is its advocacy of the primacy of class over other forms of social structure (Wright, 2000, 115) thereby producing a rigid and inflexible framework of analysis. …show more content…

However, in response to stratification theories second wave feminists have countered that through the example of gender inequalities, class analysis still maintains its relevance (Crompton, 1989, 564). Baxter (1988, 106) validated this stance by arguing that gender based inequalities are an inherent feature of class systems whereby “women’s position in the class structure is determined both by class exploitation and by gender domination, and class theory needs to take both into account”. Thus, the intersection of class analysis and gender advocates a micro-sociological perspective that seeks to discuss perpetual contemporary societal inequalities in a manner that has been largely unobtainable through traditional class analysis. By first understanding the incorporation of gender and class analysis it can be argued that through the domains of family, the workforce, and society, a revised intersectional class analysis can be used to understand the reproduction of inequalities in contemporary …show more content…

Traditionally, class analysis positions the family as a single hegemonic unit, justified on the premise that the male contributes the most to labour market (Goldthorpe 1983, 470). While it is easy to see how this served as a practical solution to conceptualise a large amount of data, and the rational was understandable given historical epistemologies of the family unit, this manner of class analysis is no longer relevant. Baxter (1988, 107) and Carter (2006, 368) argue the feminist perspective and deduce that the traditional division of household labour requiring the majority of childrearing and domestic chores to be delegated to women is also responsible for producing inequality by putting women in a position of financial dependence on men, thereby constructing class relationships within the family. However, the functionalist Marxist perspective cites the appropriating of certain tasks based on gender as a product of the feudal system whereby a distinction was wrought between occupational labour and household labour (Barker, 2015, 431; Mandel, 2009, 695). Yet, this theory is empirically rooted in traditional family structures, whereas the modern family has a diversified structure and thus different forms of inequalities. Therefore, while this approach is useful for distinguishing between sexist assumptions and sexual inequality as the root of

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469 Words | 2 Pages

Ultimately, he concludes that the concept of working-class family in which wife is a homemaker and husband the sole provider for the family no longer exist. He bases his conclusions on the premise that shift in cultural attitudes and lack of livable wages for working class have created alternative forms of cohabitation, where the partners aren’t married and have children out of wed-lock, which have been replacing the standard family unit—although in an unstable manner. I am convinced by his arguments because current ideas of

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1072 Words | 5 Pages

The Vertical layered hierarchy dimension of John Porter’s Vertical Mosaic introduced social theory through class, power and status. Class is difficult to define and usually objectively determined by socioeconomic status, income and at times relational configurations. Normalization and uniformity of possessions created a middle class stereotype within Canada, which John Porter broke through outlining the hierarchy that class actually is. In fact, when the book was written, approximately only 3% of Canadians

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686 Words | 3 Pages

This essay is solely based on the effects of Mantsios’ opinions and argument on the reader and his views on the growing class divide in america. The divide could be more noticeable once it is explained. “Class in America-2012” was originally printed in Race, Class, and Gender in the United States: An Integrated Study.

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834 Words | 4 Pages

Publication Information Mantsios, Gregory. “Class in America: Myths and Realities (2000).” Rereading America. Ed. Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, Bonnie Lisle.

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1842 Words | 8 Pages

Women now are breadwinners and some men are stay at home dads. Due to economic pressures from society, both spouses have to work to maintain their family compared to the 1950’s where only one spouse could work and support a family. Both shows display the importance of society’s typical family structure and gender roles from each time period. In conclusion, there has been a dramatic shift in women’s roles in society today when compared to the

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217 Words | 1 Pages

Nowadays, women stand in a good position in personal and business life. They have an equal rights with men to vote, choose a desired study direction, occupation, and others. However, the situation of women’s position has not been always like that. In the 1950s, the economy was booming which created a hierarchy in family. According to Stephanie Coontz, a man was a breadwinner, and he had a full power and leadership in his family (Coontz, 27-43).

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977 Words | 4 Pages

There is lower, middle, and upper class, but there are also subcategories that fill the gaps in between, like the impoverished and the top one percenters. “Class in America”, written by Gregory Mantsios, addresses the myths and realities about socioeconomic class in America and how they affect American lives. His article highlights the unequal divide that has persisted over the course of history and will continue to manifest in the future. To introduce the existence of this issue, Mantsios states that this country’s citizens “don’t like to talk about class...or class privileges, or class oppression, or the class nature of society” (Mantsios 378). This is the case in America today because people are neglecting to acknowledge the existence of these elusive

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1009 Words | 5 Pages

Within my own life, gender socialization has caused me not to pursue lucrative jobs in career fields that are “for men,” while sociobiology could have deterred me from entering the more physically demanding but rewarding field of culinary arts in favor of the less prestigious field of baking and pastry arts. As for Gilman’s Marxist emphasis, my co-worker has unfortunately lost her economic independence simply because she had to give up her job in order to give her son the attention he needs. Overall, while writing this essay, I was disheartened to discover that it was easy for me to identify the aforementioned examples, but I also realized that it is not as bad as it once was for women—it is a lot easier for women to rebel against gender inequality now. Despite these advances in freedom, however, I feel that Gilman’s theory is relevant when it comes to explaining the social world due to the fact that gender inequality still exists today, and it can still have an impact on a woman’s economic independence even though it is not as overt. With that being said, Gilman’s theory will continue to be useful because it helps to identify the roots of gender inequality that need to be eliminated if we ever want complete gender equality within our

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1091 Words | 5 Pages

Gender Inequality: A Woman’s Struggle in “The Yellow Wallpaper” In “The Yellow Wallpaper”, Charlotte Perkins Gilman captures the lives of women in a society based on societal expectations during the late nineteenth century. She focuses on the issue of gender inequality where women were often discriminated against and expected to fulfill the role of a perfect wife and mother. The narrator is based on on Gilman’s personal experience of suffering from her treatment for postpartum depression due to the social restrictions on women which represents a reflection on women's social status in society. The narrator, who remains anonymous, is depicted as a depressed and isolated prisoner who is oppressed under her husband’s control and struggles to break free.

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In many societies and depending on their cultures, men and women are seen equally and may share the same roles in the household or even a stay at home father and the mother being the breadwinner. In modern family, Phil and Claire share the responsibilities with both working and both looking after the kids. The gay couple, Mitchell and Cameron who has an adopted daughter, together they learn what roles they should take on but not being gender specific when raising their daughter and the dynamics in the household. In many families today, dual earning families increased and not just the male who goes to work but females as well and follow their dreams like furthering their careers. “In the 21st century within households two pay-checks have become essential for most families to maintain even a modest standard of living in order to provide” (Walsh, 2012:11).

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1381 Words | 6 Pages

Educated, married men with full time homemaker wives in the USA are less egalitarian in their views than younger, unmarried, more educated, high status men with full-time employed wives. The labour market participation of women has increased in the past few decades in industrial societies. This development has the potential to influence beliefs about gender roles and the division of labour housework, and child-care. Most of the published studies regarding gender differences in gender-role beliefs have found that women generally hold more egalitarian gender-role beliefs than men Majority, talks are the about feminist movement, have led made efforts to change aspects of society prevailing in gender roles. At last I would like to say that gender and sex are not interchangeable terms, neither are gender development and sexual development

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919 Words | 4 Pages

The fact also arises that women not only suffer from lack of recognition for the work they do in households but also for their work in their jobs. Women work as much as men, if not more. When both paid and unpaid work such as household chores and caring for children are taken into consideration, women work longer hours than men—an average of 30 minutes a day longer in developed countries and 50 minutes in developing countries. This is known as second shift, where women not only work at their jobs but also come back home and complete their household chores. However their contribution remains minimum due to unequal wage pay and lack of consideration given to household chores.

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1282 Words | 6 Pages

Gender Inequality Gender inequality is a characteristic of social structure according to which different social groups (in this case men and women) have certain differences resulting in unequal opportunities. Gender inequality is associated with social construction of masculinity and femininity as oppositional categories with unequal social value (Ferree, 1999). One of the main problems in gender theory is the problem of dominance. Together with race and class gender is a hierarchical structure that could to provide both opportunities and oppression (Ferree, 1999). Gender inequality can exist in different forms, depending on culture, region, religion and other factors.

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1114 Words | 5 Pages

Introduction In India, discriminatory attitude towards men and women have existed for generations and thus it affect the lives of both genders. Although the constitution of India has granted men and women equal rights, but gender gap still remains. Female discrimination violates human rights. These are mostly seen in family land sharing among sisters and brothers.

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1056 Words | 5 Pages

Gender inequality is a deeply rooted issue that has been prevalent in all corners of the world since the beginning. It is in no way bound to a single country or area, as gender discrimination is everywhere, but in middle eastern countries it is so connected to the culture that this discrimination is seen as normal and even supported. People are being treated as second-class citizens based on nothing but the sex they were born with, and no one is even batting an eye. This is part of why the Middle East houses some of the lowest ranking countries on the Global Gender Gap Index. While some people continue to hold onto discriminatory values and remain uneducated in important topics, it is necessary for governments to make ending gender inequality a priority, especially in these middle eastern countries where radical religious groups like the Taliban force their restricting values on others and male guardianship strips women of the freedom of being in charge of their own lives.

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