It's time we women got wise to the gender equality facts that matter. Events in 2018 have surely taught all women the need to keep up the fight.
Had we really become so complacent?
That must be so, because there has been a lot of backsliding and in many areas. A reversal of much of the progress of the past 30 to 40 years seems to be evident.
It was happening right in-front of us, but it took the many scandals of 2018 to wake us up!
We thought that in this article we would revisit what we see as the gender equality facts. In other words, define the principles of equality and then comment on the male/ female reality of real life, as we see it.
The Basic Facts of Gender Equality are Based Upon Equality
Equality does not mean elimination of all forms of differences of income and status. Equality means that each one should be given equal opportunity to education and employment without any discrimination on grounds of caste, race, class or sex.
We have no wish to deny that, income and status are a result of one's own talent and merit. And, how much one is able to benefit from education and employment. Income and status are the outcomes which the state cannot guarantee, but can ensure only equal opportunities to all.
It is important that both the industrial relations regime and the discrimination regime work together to create discrimination free workplaces.
This ethical theory helps to explain the necessity of the struggle for equal rights in the workplace, at home, and in other public places. And, as 2018 has shown us the “struggle” is perpetual and ongoing. Never forget that, because experience now shows that this is at the very pinnacle of gender equality facts
This theory promotes the increased role of diversity in human society.
Why Feminism
A fact we adhere to is that the feminist approach is the most satisfactory moral answer to the issue of gender equality. That's because it advocates changes in human society based on the interests of women. Women's rights in different sectors should be equal to men's rights. The feminist view is necessary to counterbalance male bias.
Gender equality must be based upon the principle of equality or it means nothing. Those, in a nutshell, are simply the core gender equality facts from which everything derives, and against which all progress should be judged.
The Global Objective – United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Gender equality, also known as sex equality, gender egalitarianism, sexual equality, or equality of the genders, is the view that everyone should receive equal treatment and not be discriminated against based on their gender.
This is one of the objectives of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which seeks to create equality in law and in social situations, such as in democratic activities and securing equal pay for equal work.
In practice, the objective of gender equality is for people to acquire, if they so choose, equal treatment throughout a society, not just in politics, the workplace, or any other policy-designated sphere. To avoid complication, genders besides women and men will not be treated in this article.
Source: Wikipedia
Gender Equality in the European Union
With the entry into force of the new Treaty of the European Union (2009), equality between women and men was upgraded to the status of a “fundamental value” (Art.2 Treaty on European Union [TEU]) and an objective (Art.3 TEU) of the EU.
Moreover, the EU (i.e. all its institutions and organs) is required to aim eliminating inequalities, and to promote equality between men and women in all its activities. In addition, the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights 2 provides for equality between women and men and prohibits sex discrimination in all fields. via europa.eu
The above is the basis for EU regulations.
Gender Equality in the United States
In US Law gender equality is called sex-based discrimination. The law says:
Sex discrimination involves treating someone (an applicant or employee) unfavorably because of that person's sex.
Discrimination against an individual because of gender identity, including transgender status, or because of sexual orientation is discrimination because of sex in violation of Title VII. For more information about LGBT-related sex discrimination claims, for more information click here.
Sex Discrimination & Work Situations
The law forbids discrimination when it comes to any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, fringe benefits, and any other term or condition of employment.
Sex Discrimination Harassment
It is unlawful to harass a person because of that person's sex. Harassment can include “sexual harassment” or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature. Harassment does not have to be of a sexual nature, however, and can include offensive remarks about a person's sex. For example, it is illegal to harass a woman by making offensive comments about women in general.
Both victim and the harasser can be either a woman or a man, and the victim and harasser can be the same sex.
Although the law doesn't prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or isolated incidents that are not very serious, harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment or when it results in an adverse employment decision (such as the victim being fired or demoted).
The harasser can be the victim's supervisor, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or someone who is not an employee of the employer, such as a client or customer.
Sex Discrimination & Employment Policies/Practices
An employment policy or practice that applies to everyone, regardless of sex, can be illegal if it has a negative impact on the employment of people of a certain sex and is not job-related or necessary to the operation of the business. via www.eeoc.gov
As long ago as 2010 it was made clear in the EEOC Women's Work Group Report that our dialogue partners were concerned. They stated that the lack of developmental assignments for women is an impediment to women reaching higher level and management positions in the federal workforce. Developmental assignments are temporary projects assigned for the purpose of exposing employees to work duties and environments that will prepare them for promotional opportunities. Our dialogue partners maintained that, through assignments, managers often steered women into non-management tracks and traditional female positions, such as staff positions or human resources, research, or administrative positions rather than managerial or high level positions. via www.eeoc.gov
Both women and men are responsible for their actions. They know what they are getting themselves into, it's just that when you get into the nitty-gritty of the facts of gender equality, real-life differences start to kick-in and they are practical and unavoidable. They will always be so, and the following are couple of examples. We start with the reality in the US Air Force:
Gender Equality in the USAF
The Air Force claimed that the exclusion of women from the pilots' course was justified for operational considerations because of the cost of the course and the reduced reserve service potential of women. The Air Force pointed out that the Defense Service Law allowed women to cease reserve service after pregnancy, while men are required to continue such service till the age of fifty-four. The Air Force did not claim justification on grounds of policy regarding combat roles for women and did not question women's competence to be pilots. Miller's petition to the High Court of Justice was accepted by a majority of three to two. Justice Dorner introduced the principle of accommodation as the model of equality for women to be adopted by the Court. via Women as Pilots
The Longer Term Perspective on Gender Roles from US Rural Roots
To truly look at the evolution of women's roles in the working world, let's think back to the early 19th century, when the economy in the United States was based on family farms rather than manufactured goods. In these days, the duties were split evenly between husbands and wives. The household didn't really work, without both respecting these roles.
While men were out in the fields doing physical labor, women remained indoors, producing clothing, preparing and preserving food, and doing other, what would be called today, “domestic”tasks.
Is it any wonder that seeking equality in our generation we find it difficult, considering these age-old established roles. Thus, this must be a factor in how hard it is to break these old gender equality “facts of life”.
So How Do They provide Gender Equality in the Most Populous Nation?
New China was established in 1949, specifically considering that the adoption of the reform and opening-up policy in the late 1970s. The principles of establishing the nation, along with the constant development of China's economy and the overall progress of its society,are clear. Females are being provided more guarantees of enjoyment of equal rights and opportunities with guys. And, the development of women is being offered extraordinary opportunities.
Many employers might not know about the types of harassment that is specified by the employment law. While creating ahead with much deeper all-round reform and promoting village-level self-government in rural locations, the state has actually:
- carried out and enhanced laws and policies on securing the land rights of females in rural locations,
- established different systems for managing rural collective funds, properties and resources,
- corrected any village guidelines and folk conventions for villagers that are in conflict with statutory policies and the principle of gender equality.
This is being done so as to make sure that females in rural areas take pleasure in equivalent rights of land agreement and management, use of homesteads and circulation of collective earnings.
In the confirmation, registration and accreditation of land agreement and management rights, rules on this are clear. It is clearly ruled that ladies' s rights and interests in relation to land need to be offered expression, in the registration book and land certificate
This is so that females in rural areas are ensured access to the resources essential for survival and development.
Conclusion – Summing Up on those Gender Equality Facts You Wish You Knew Even One Year Ago!
We know that regression on human rights and equality is happening even as we see progress in other areas.
The events of 2018 show that the facts is that in achieving gender equality we are still close to the beginning of theorizing sex, gender, gender identity and how they relate.
That those discussions are continuous and unsolved does not affect our ambitions. All women must remain aware and ready to energetically pursue their rights to gender equality and end sex discrimination.
