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Krystal Ricks

23 April 2022

Gender Inequality
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The article by Nona Glazer titled “The sociology of women and gender”is the article that

I am reviewing for my essay. This article explains women and gender in the United States, later

in the article it begins to discuss other pivotal moments and strides that happen in the United

States. This evidence supports their main points because it explains how gender equality is hard

to achieve and difficult to explain because women and men vary from each other in various

ways. Women are emotionally and physically not similar compared to men to the point where

society considers them as opposites. All throughout history, women have been examined as the

nurturers or even the weaker sex. While men are dealt to be “the providers.” In turn, women face

various amounts of hardships. Unfortunately, this type of behavior is not considered a trend; the

biased treatment of women stem from centuries ago. The unethical treatment of women based

predominantly on sex is considered gender inequality. This can be seen when analyzing novels

such as The Mill on The Floss by George Elliot, when analyzing the relationship between

Maggie and her brother Tom Tuliver..

The novel The Mill on the Floss highlights gender inequality as this is seen by analyzing

the relationship of Maggie and Tom. This novel was published in the 1860s by George Elliot.

From current understanding George Elliot is an English writer. During this time period in the

1800 this would be considered the Victorian Era for English literature. In this time period women

did not have many luxuries compared to men. One thing that stood out to me was how Maggie is

very passionate about her knowledge and drive for always wanting to learn more. Many women

in this period did not have the opportunity to be able to go to school. Tom, who is Maggie's

brother, does not seem to care much about his education. Since Tom is a male, in society Tom is

able to manage to have a higher social standing compared to his sister Maggie. There are even
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points in the novel where Tom seems very disinterested in what intrigues Maggie. This in turn

has led to Maggie seeking validation from elsewhere. Even men that could have potentially

shown interest in Maggie such as Phillip Wakeem. Negative comments were received by others.

Some of the comments may not have been verbal but some were seen simply through body

language. Phillip Wakeem was an intelligent man and so was Maggie. Through society's

preconceived negative notions this is hinged in their relationship.

The author mentions college education multiple times within this article. Women colleges

have geared toward establishing more equality between genders since the founding of colleges

for women within the 19th century (Glazer, N. 1981). Women colleges offer an environment

filled with empowered women who are focused and have the perseverance and drive for

academic success. Educated women have a significant likelihood of obtaining jobs that are better

and therefore are able to be compensated at a higher rate. Women who are educated sometimes

tend not to have as many children as the average woman; The children that they may have also

tend to be more educated and healthier. Throughout many years of history, education wasn’t

readily available to women. Women who sought “male dominated” careers were viewed as

trying to become more dominant than men when that wasn’t the intention. Acker, Joan R. 1973

"Women and social stratification: A case of intellectual sexism." in J. Huber (ed.).

Changing Woman in a Changing Society. Chicago: University of Chicago Press: 174-183

In this article by Joan Acker is source that I would further my research for my

essay because it explains the sex-based inequalites, assumptions of social positions of

women, and if family related issues play a role. . Women’s roles have changed at an

increasing rate and have parts in areas that include: medicine, business, politics, and even

law. This source talks about how historically women were not part of any political matter,
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but have made an advancement in many aspects. This article would be able to help

further support my claim and discussion has to show the gender inequalities that Maggie

undergoes and that is highlighted in the Mill on the Floss goes on long after. Women’s

social status in society also plays a role in the home life of Maggie and Tom also. This is

seen because the parents of Maggie and Tom viewed both of them equally. Maggie

would not be treated by the way that she is by her brother and in addition by her parents.

If Maggie felt empowered this is something that would have been ingrained in her from

the start of a young age.

Berk, Sarah Fenstermaker 1980 Women and Household Labor. Beverly Hills: Sage
Publishers. Sage Yearbooks in Women's Policy Studies. Volume 5.
This article by author Sarah Berk will also be used in my paper because it explains the

roles of men and women within the household. Berk goes into detail how men feel decreased

obligation when they have involvement within the home as women do. Men typically have a

perspective that household chores are more of a hobby or free choice. Men have the impression

that household chores that include cooking, shopping, washing dishes, doing laundry, and

cleaning as a job that is for women only. Men choose to seek out tasks that involve car

maintenance, home maintenance, and paying bills as more masculine. The total participation in

the home aspect will formulate obstacles for participation in work which will result in home-

work conflict. Majority of men maintain full involvement in their job duties due to assumptions

that their partner will provide care and nurture for their children. When analyzing the Mill on

The Floss and Tom Tulliver. Tom had the opportunity to go on and pursue higher education. Yet

still in the novel Tom was much more fascinated with fishing and worms, mostly anything that a

“man” could do.

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The rationale for the argument that Glazer, Acker, and Berk are making is that

gender inequality affects society as an entirety. Gender inequality dates all the way back to

historical years. Men were deemed as the “bread winners,” while women stayed at home to be

domesticated. Women had to cook, clean, and take care of their children. The author states that

gender inequality is defined as discrimination based primarily on sex or gender which causes one

gender to become more prioritized or priveledged over another Gender iinequality is assumed by

many that it starts in childhood ages. In the childhood ages of a person's life, things surrounding

individuals tend to be more influential such as listening and doing/ repeating things elders say.

We view our mothers and grandmothers doing most of the cooking and cleaning and fathers and

grandfathers doing most of the handy work.

The author concludes that equality is about making sure that every human being has

equal advantages to shape the absolute most of their lives and talent. The author sees this as

important because no one should be judged based on the way others look, culture, what disability

they have, h Overall equality is ensuring that each and every individual has an equal opportunity.

Having a state of equality or even a world of equality will ensure that everyone is treated equally,

and also make individuals feel generally happier and healthier. When analyzing the novel Mill

on the Floss we began to see how gender inequality affects people. Especially at a young age

within childhood. Maggie was treated unfairly not only by societal expectations of her but also

within her own family.

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References

GLAZER, N. (1981). SOCIOLOGY OF WOMEN AND GENDER. International Review of

Modern Sociology, 11(1/2), 175–200. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41420785

Acker, Joan R. (1973) "Women and social stratification: A case of intellectual sexism." in J.

Huber (ed.). Changing Woman in a Changing Society. Chicago: University of Chicago Press:

174-183

Berk, Sarah Fenstermaker (1980) Women and Household Labor. Beverly Hills: Sage Publishers.
Sage Yearbooks in Women's Policy Studies. Volume 5.
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