Equality in Workplace: Sociology and Gender Stereotypes

“Lessons about gender start early, and they have lifelong consequences.” This stigma of gender stereotyping still clings to many even though we tend ignore it. The expectations placed upon men and women today are stronger than ever, and define much of our culture today. Famous authors and celebrities have changed the way people have viewed other genders in their works. One such work that discusses about this topic is Black Men and Public Space. In this passage, Brent Staples talks about the struggles a typical African American man has to go through in order to fit in with society. People tend to assume women are more docile and vulnerable, while men are more strong and powerful. These assumptions all lead to the fact that people should change their point of view about gender stereotypes that are deeply rooted in society in order to insure equality into people’s lifestyles. Stereotyping can occur anywhere, but mostly in the workplace. Some people are quick to assume that teachers and nurses are women, and that doctors, and engineers are men. So to discuss the issue of gender stereotypes, this essay will focus on the gender stereotyping issue in the workplace.

Gender stereotypes exist in the belief that it is a woman's job to stay home and take care of the family and that if a woman would be offered an office job, that she would be paid less than her male collegues. Men consider women to be less adept at problem-solving. Since men outnumber women in top job positions, this stereotype dominates coperate thinking and may contribute to the fact that women make up less than 2% of CEOs. These assumptions that occur in workplaces all tie back to the point that people, especially men, should change their opinions about others in order to bring equality around us. Gender stereotyping can also differ in gender personality traits. “women are often expected to be quiet, while men are usually expected to be powerful.” Every group has a stereotype made against them. Whether it’s about how males are aggressive and self-confident and how they are “good at everything” or it’s females and how they are supposed to be emotional and vulnerable. “One assumption is that women are first assumed incompetent until proven otherwise. Women are not perceived as leaders, but as a minority.

If a woman is successful it’s because she’s a hard worker, but if she fails she’s incompetent. The personalities women have been showing throughout history have made it much harder for the future generations to be accepted into the workforce equally, in that society will always assume that jobs are for men and homes are for women. The future seems bright for gender equality. “The ‘traditional’ male is dying out.” Many people are now beleiving that gender shouldn’t define us and that individuals shouldn’t follow gender roles or behaviors already set by society. With the power shift toward women at work and home, everything is being increasingly defined, dominated, and controlled by women.

The present is already witnessing the start of this change. Because of the help of celebrities and authors, the fight towards equality is becoming more victorious and it is leading the way toward a brighter future for all, especially women. Men are beginning to become out-educated and out-performed by women. What we see in our reporting is really that gender roles are converging more than ever before in society, whether you look at women taking combat positions in the military or fathers staying home, almost nobody is living out the kind of gender script or marriage script that their parents did. The future will eventually change to a point were females will finally have the opportunity to stand with males. As for gender stereotyping, this essay's conclusion comes to the point that people should change their point of view about female roles in order to insure equality in our society and for future generations. Breaking gender stereotypes is important as we have to be vigilant of our surroundings and prevent negativity from people in order to create a more diverse and equal society. It is never too late to speak up for the ones who can’t.