Gender Discrimination at Workplace

Dark Side of Our Society: Gender Discrimination at Workplace Subject: Composition and communication skills (eng 102)

SUBMITTED TO Golam Rabbani (Shihab) Department of English East West University

SUBMITTED BY Name: Tanjila A. Flora ID: 2008-3-10-166 (Sec#9) Date of submission 21 December, 2009

Gender Discrimination at Workplace

Index . Content Acknowledgement Abstract Outline Introduction Gender Discrimination at Workplace Wage Discrimination at Workplace by gender Sexual harassment at workplace Ways of Preventing Gender Discrimination Conclusion Reference Page No.
03 04 05 07 08 10 12 13 15 17

Acknowledgement

Gender Discrimination at Workplace

First of all, I am really thankful to the Almighty who gives me the opportunity to prepare this

term paper. Then I would like to thank my honorable course instructor Golam Rabbani who

helped me a lot to develop my English writing skills and basically this term paper is the

reflection of that. Finally, my thanks go to all my friends, family members specially my

brother who inspired me a lot to prepare this term paper.

Abstract

The main reason for which I prepare this term paper is to show gender discrimination at the

Gender Discrimination at Workplace

work place as a dark side of our society. As we are in 21st century, it is quite unbelievable

that we are still thousand of miles away from proper development. A society can not be

enlightened when a major portion like women is in darkness. Gender discrimination in

workplace has become terrible in Bangladesh now-a-days where women are working like

men but get fewer wages. My concentration will be on this part of our society through this

term paper.

Outline :
A.Introduction

Gender Discrimination at Workplace

B. Gender discrimination at workplace Overview of gender discrimination at workplace Refuses to hire woman who have children Female employees asked to resign for marriage Qualified females denied certain jobs for lack of opportunity Refuses to hire train, pregnant or married women Also refuses to hire women of childbearing age

C. Wage discrimination at workplace by gender Cheaper female labours Hypothetical example of wage discrimination at RMG sector 21% advantages for male employers higher posts are reserved for male

D. Sexual harassments at workplace Unwanted jokes and unwelcome comments Offensive words on clothing Touching, grabbing or any other bodily contact Repeated requests for dates and unwanted flirting Posting emails or pictures of sexual related nature Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures or posters Playing sexually suggestive music

E. Ways of preventing gender discrimination

Gender Discrimination at Workplace

Cultural empowerment Social empowerment Economic empowerment Political empowerment Educational empowerment Impose strict laws

F. Conclusion

Introduction:

Gender Discrimination at Workplace

The conspiracy against women can possibly be traced back to the biblical version of original sin story in which Eve leads Adam astray by making him eat from the forbidden apple. Thus the role of women has been set from ancient times, women must be kept under a leash, like a wild animal, she must be tamed and molded so that she can be useful and productive. Things have been changing for women from the ancient times. As science and technology have brought significant changes among societies, women have come out from their homes to prove their worth in this world. In addition, modern civilization cant properly be continued without the help of women. Men now need womens assistance not only for household chores but also for office works. Women have earned their credentials from men by their intelligence, integrity and honesty. Despite, being able to contribute in social and economical development, women are still victims of gender discrimination which prevails in home, workplace and other areas where a little amount of womens presence exist. The biggest weapon to keep the women in check is by claiming the limits and boundaries that circumscribe womens lives as those dictated by the practiced religion. Gender discrimination appears in many forms. At workplaces, the clearest example of gender discrimination lies in the wage gap existing between male and female employees. Women are also not getting equal right in adoption and implementation of economic policy, ownership, control of

Gender Discrimination at Workplace

resources, inheritance rights, and mobility in the public and market share and direct election in the reserved seats of women. These practices need to be urgently stopped and by instituting new laws and adopting new policies.

Gender Discrimination at Workplace:

Gender is the mutual relationship between men and women developed through social

factors, and which is changeable in course of their social interactions. The study of social

division of labor throws a searching light on the discrimination of women. Men and women

perform different types of tasks and have different jobs within the family, in household

production and in the marketplace. (Ahmed, F. Gender division of labor Bangladesh context

retrieved from http://www.adhunika.org/issues/gen_Div.html)

In an age where we talk about equal rights for men and women, there are still examples of

people being discriminated because of their gender. People should realize that gender

Gender Discrimination at Workplace

discrimination at workplace is a serious form of employment discrimination. Gender

discrimination refers to the beliefs and attitudes in relation to the gender of a person. It can be

the men, women and also transgender individuals in the society, who face gender

discrimination. Gender discrimination is considered as a serious form of prejudice and is

illegal in certain circumstances in most of the countries around the world. In Bangladesh

gender discrimination at workplace is illegal but most of the women suffer from this. These

are some common scenario of gender discrimination at work place in Bangladesh.

The employer refuses to hire women who have children, while hiring men with

children.

Female employees are often asked to resign when they get married, but there is no

similar requirement for males.

Qualified female employees are denied certain jobs without a reasonable opportunity

Gender Discrimination at Workplace

10

to demonstrate their ability to perform those jobs, which are labeled as mens

domains.

The employer refuses to hire, train, assign jobs, or promote pregnant or married

women, or women of childbearing age, on the basis of gender.

Wage Discrimination at Workplace by gender :

Labor in Bangladesh is cheap. Female labor is even cheaper. The number of women

workers is greater in the garments industries. Let us test the above context through a case

study. Newage Group is a leading exporter of RMG from Bangladesh that employ over 4000

people, 70% of whom are females. Given below is a table that shows the employment in their

three production facilities broken down into groups of various skills. The last column of the

table shows the discrimination index of average wages of the various groups of employees as

compared with their male counterparts.

Gender Discrimination at Workplace

11

Employment Group Supervisors Sewing Dept Finishing Dept Cutting Dept QC Dept Helpers

Gender Male 183 308 241 174 174 152

Female 10 1370 205 23 53 1087

Discrimination index Male Female 100 79 100 97 100 88 100 89 100 95 100 100

Table: Quasem, A. S. M. GENDER EQUALITY, EXPORT PERFORMANCE

ANDCOMPETITIVENESS A PRACTICAL APPROACH: GENDER EQUALITY, COMPETITIVENESS AND EXPORT PERFORMANCE IN THE GARMENTS SECTOR IN BANGLADESH. Retrieved from http://www.intracen.org/execforum/ef2006/GenderIssues/Paper_Quasem.pdf

A look at the above table reveals that the male employees generally have wage advantage over the females. With some exception the discrimination is more prominent in the employees of higher skill level and reduces as the skill level reduces. Helpers of both genders who are at the bottom of the skill ladder enjoy same level of wages whereas male supervisors possessing high levels of technical and managerial skills enjoy a 21% wage advantage over their female counterparts.

Sexual harassments at workplace :

Sexual harassment occurs when one employee makes continued, unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature,

Gender Discrimination at Workplace

12

to another employee, against hisor her wishes. sexual harassment occurs, "when submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual'semployment, unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment. Sexual harassment can occur in a variety of situations. These are examples of sexual harassment, not intended to be all inclusive.

Unwanted jokes, gestures, offensive words on clothing, and unwelcome comments and repartee.

Touching and any other bodily contact such as scratching or patting a coworker's back, grabbing an employee around the waiste, or interfering with an employee's ability to move.

Repeated requests for dates that are turned down or unwanted flirting. Transmitting or posting emails or pictures of a sexual or other harassment-related nature.

Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, or posters. Playing sexually suggestive music.

Gender Discrimination at Workplace

13

Ways of Preventing Gender Discrimination:

There are a few policies which can ensure women to work at workplaces without being plagued by gender discrimination. These policies can be instituted and implemented by the government and society. These are as followed: Cultural empowerment: To make enable young women and girls to make their own

choices with regard to traditional beliefs and cultural practices.

Social empowerment: To provides the skills and opportunities for women and girls to

organize and use their collective power to advocate for justice, fairness and equity on

behalf of themselves and others.

Economic empowerment: It will give them the ability to generate income, own and

control assets, access and use Credit. They will realize greater choices in jobs and

occupations and demand access to essential services for themselves, their families and

their communities.

Gender Discrimination at Workplace

14

Political empowerment: It will enable women and girls to successfully influence

decision-makers, including men, through their advocacy of fairer, appropriate allocation

of resources.

Educational empowerment: It will provide numerous tangible benefits for the girls and

women themselves and their families, which will be passed onto future generations.

Introducing more restrict laws: It will help women to protect their right properly on

their workplace.

Conclusion:

In the study, we have vividly seen the formidable scenario of gender discrimination.

Gender Discrimination at Workplace

15

Women have been neglected since the very inception of our society. They have been

deprived from the facilities that are enjoyed by men. At workplace, though they work with

same expertise and same concentration as men, they are ill paid. Self respect does not

necessarily depend on the monetary value only, but it also depends on the admiration of the

work someone does. Women are not only ill paid but also are reprimanded for their works

where they should have been admired for their works. This scenario hinders the self respect

of the women. As a result, they lack in confidence and positive attitudes. Another thing is,

women are often harassed by their colleagues at their workplaces. These harassments are of

different kinds and manners. They are harassed sexually, mentally and in other unknown

ways. So, it is apparently seen that, workplace for women in our society is not a utopia. But it

does not necessarily mean that we are dreaming of a utopian workplace for women. We just

dream of a workplace that is free from discrimination, male domination, where womens

good works will be fairly admired, where they will find an amicable working environment.

Gender Discrimination at Workplace

16

This is our dream and the dream that is seen by all the entire women workers. If we can

ensure the above told environment for women, we can surely be the epitome of a country that

maintains women- friendly workplace.

References:

Quasem, A. S. M. GENDER EQUALITY, EXPORT PERFORMANCE ANDCOMPETITIVENESS A PRACTICAL APPROACH: GENDER EQUALITY,

Gender Discrimination at Workplace

17

COMPETITIVENESS AND EXPORT PERFORMANCE IN THE GARMENTS SECTOR IN BANGLADESH. Retrieved from http://www.intracen.org/execforum/ef2006/GenderIssues/Paper_Quasem.pdf

Manohar, U. (2008, October 24). Gender Discrimination at Workplace Retrieved from

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/gender-discrimination-at-workplace.html

Ahmed, F. Gender division of labor Bangladesh context retrieved from http://www.adhunika.org/issues/gen_Div.html