Can gender equality (fairness, = treatment, provision of same rights) ever be achieved? 1. Don t rule it out 2.

Show how it s possible 3. State reasons that make it difficult/stumble equality process FOR 1) Workplace-women given -More recognition -More female entrepreneurs= female friendly culture -More care taken to implement policies that safeguard tights 2) Political sphere - more female leaders, viewed as effective rather than symbolic leaders UK- Margaret Thatcher German Chancellor- Angela Merkel A majority of female ministers AGAINST 1) Discriminated- rate of promotion recognition work doubly hard. Pregnancy as liability. Certain jobs biased against women. (Engineering/banking) 2) Generally under-represented. FOR 3) Domestic work increasingly recognized by state 4) Physical difference - overcome by technology& persistent efforts of women Male dominated jobs can be performed by females de to improved technology Manual jobs made easier and more accessible with machines 5) Community desire for = recognition with many movements / campaigns enlisting support of both genders in desiring = opportunities and recognition in society Against: 3) Society does not place domestic work on = value with real/ paid employment 4) Weaker sex - deemed physically and emotionally weaker 5) However, women can sabotage process. While pushing for greater rights/ equality, they still desire to be treated as weaker sex due to the conveniences/concessions it affords. Conclusion Still a belief in the inherent (physical and emotional) weaknesses of women. Such cultural norms/ beliefs are unlikely to shift. A long history of female subordination indicates that eve as society progresses, discrimination of women does not disappear, but take on different/ more subtle forms

Is gender discrimination still common today?

Yes, in many aspects of society, gender discrimination still occurs, I t is important to recognize it in some cases, the unfair treatment is nor limited to women but also happens to men

FOR - workplace- glass ceiling remains. Unbalances representation of women in positions of power despite similar qualification. Lower pay (average working mother earns only 75% as much as her male peer/counterpart) AGAINST - Increasingly more women are in the higher echelons of society. More changes occulting even in conservative work places -Women recognised for capabilities. Diversity of views now better accepted appreciated

2. FOR - Political-skewed representation by the media focusing on personal affairs, home life, and fashion/looks/physical attributed -Lack of female participation in higher office AGAINST - female presidents &ministers are pacing the way for other women, even in conservative societies Greater/more public acceptance of women being voted for/elected. Women recognition on basis of merit, increasingly emphasized in the developed/ first world nations

3. FOR-Many religions and cultures promote teaching that women are subordinate to men Judaism, Islam accused of practicing patriarchy. AGAINST- Many religions are less dogmatic. More vocal organisations push for = rights, empower women to assert rights/more female priests 4, FOR-unfair representation by media, rampant stereotypes still prevail Discriminatory representation AGAINST-Men also subjected to many unfair representation &unrealistic models. 5. FOR-Education denied to girls in third world countries. AGAINST-In developed countries, girls outperform boys in reading and writing (UNESCO) by 2020 demographers predict. 156 v/s 100 men earning degrees in USA