Gender Disparity in a Profession

KAKALI DAS

Unlike the days of yore, both men and their women counterpart have become increasingly vocal in-terms of gender parity.

That’s all and good, but there are plenty to land an insight in.

The workplace has sometimes been referred to as an inhospitable setting for women due to the multiple forms of gender in-equalities. The discussions, and many of the initiatives companies have undertaken, too often reflect a faulty belief: that men and women are fundamentally different, by virtue of their genes or their upbringing or both.

Of course, there are biological differences. But those are not the differences people are usually talking about. Instead, the rhetoric focuses on the idea that women are inherently unlike men in terms of disposition, attitudes, and behaviours.

Few instances of how workplace discrimination adversely affects women’s earnings, opportunities and adequate self-sufficiency are the gender wage gap, the dearth of women in leadership and the longer time required for women to (vs men) to advance in their careers.

Another set of assumed differences marshalled to explain women’s failure at per with her male counterpart : lack of confidence, are too risk averse, they negotiate poorly or are too emotional to undertake set goals and decisions etc. These scars the psychological happenings of the women and drags them towards the dreadful igloo of depression.

Even in this era of superpowers and the world marching ahead of the archaic beliefs, Why are women still objectified as weak and meagre in standing hand in hand with the Men?, Why do people still get surprised when a woman march ahead in claiming her rights that she deserve? Why are people always trying to pull her down?

It’s a shame and an illusion to believe that we’re modern as modern thoughts and beliefs and not gimmick are what makes us any different from being an “Human” in the truest sense.

Multiple studies show, for example, that women are less embedded in networks that offer opportunities to gather vital information and garner support.

When people lack access to useful contacts and information, they face a disadvantage in negotiations. They may not know what is on the table, what is within the realm of possibility, or even that a chance to strike a deal exists.

When operating under such conditions, women are more likely to conform to the gender stereotype that “women don’t ask.” Having studied British Literature for years, the structure of this article reminds of various women writers of the 19^th century who wrote in the guise of men to prevent their identity from being disclosed, Mary An Evans named herself as George Eliot and so did many other women writers.

Virginia Woolf, in her, A Room of One’s Own wrote, she wrote, “ Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind.’’

With this, she vociferously stated her protest against the deep-rooted patriarchy which sickled their thoughts and desires in expressing themselves. Moreover, regarding the anonymity too, she wrote, “ I would venture to guess that Anon, who wrote so many poems without signing them was often a woman.’’

Economic disparity in the genders are just not confined to the corporate levels or the lower-medium pay jobs but can be witnessed in the glamour or the entertainment world too. Many actors (female) were seen being vocal about their positions in a film or the discrepancies in their pay-checks with the equal amount of work they doas men.

Now that there have been immense female centric scripts being written, a gradual change in the scenario can be seen.

The topic of change pinpoints the recent judgement by the Honorable Supreme Court of India clearing commission, command roles for women officers in the Indian Army. The historic decision proves to be a landmark in the otherwise barren roads leading towards women’s rights and existence in the country.

[Images from different sources]

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