IndexSummaryIntroductionGender Roles in the Workplace (Essay)Perception of WomenLiterature and Arts VS STEMGap in the WorkplaceMedia ContributionRoles in FilmsLanguage UsedPressure and Sexual HarassmentPressureSexual HarassmentCounter ArgumentRefutationConclusionWorks CitedSummaryThis research paper discusses The impact of gender stereotypes on women's advancement in the workplace. Although men say that women have won their rights, it is still obvious that there is still a lot of work to be done to achieve balance. To analyze gender stereotypes in the workplace, this essay is divided into three sections. The first section of the research paper explains how several factors play a role in shaping gender stereotypes thus limiting women's capabilities. Factors such as: society's perception, the teaching and parenting system, and the gap between males and females greatly influence women's decisions and development. The second section discusses the contribution of the media in highlighting gender stereotypes in the workplace. People are so influenced by what they see on screens, so the media plays a significant role in shaping women's identities and choices. The third section discusses the consequences of being subjected to workplace pressure and harassment against women. Working in a stressful environment will help women give up what they want and aim for. These elements are the result of socially conducted norms and determine how women perceive themselves and also how society reacts to them. However, an opposing view states that men are subjected to greater pressure due to gender stereotypes. Finally, in the conclusion, some solutions are proposed to prevent further damage to women's careers and the general well-being of society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay IntroductionThroughout history, differences between males and females have been classified into two categories: biological differences (hormones and physical appearance), social and cultural differences (due to social norms and mentalities). Gender stereotypes are the result of all these differences and appear when someone generalizes an attribute or characteristic to a group of people of the same sex. Stereotypes could lead to neglecting one's personal commitment and limiting one's choices, especially if they occur in the workplace. These stereotypes can influence the sexes positively or negatively. However, it is obvious that the negative effects are more directed towards the female side and this is due to some cultural and social norms. The glass ceiling is one of the dangerous effects of gender stereotypes that have triggered the revolution against these stereotypes in the workplace. It is a term used to represent the intangible barrier that prevents people, especially women, from pursuing a particular career. Women suffer a lot of discrimination due to these stereotypes, such as: pay gap, difficulty in reaching senior positions, neglect of promotions and benefits; they also endure many stressful events. On the other hand, another point of view holds that stereotypes negatively affect men more than women. They must respect the rules established by society to maintain their “masculine” character. Men are expected to be firm, responsible and independent, otherwise they will be discriminated against by society. In fact, gender stereotypes are increasing the gap between men and women in the workplace and this gapis expanded with the help of the media, thus putting pressure on women outside and inside the workplace. Gender Roles in the Workplace (essay) In the 21st century, people have started to see more movements to combat stereotypes, especially those based on gender. One of the reasons that pushed people to start these movements is the urgent need to reduce the gap that has been created between females and males due to gender stereotypes. Society and culture have set these stereotypes based on their perception of women and job classification which leads to a huge imbalance between men and women in the workplace. Perception of Women It has become clear that if women want to reach top positions, they will face many challenges. These obstacles are the result of the link created between socially defined attributes and women. Women are not perceived as decision makers or leaders. This goes back to the outdated mentality that if women are put under pressure they will become emotional and break down. There are many factors that society and culture take into consideration to end up with these stereotypes. One factor is that women are not afforded the same educational opportunities as men. According to UNESCO, despite progress, more young women than young men still remain out of school: 16 million girls will never set foot in a study hall and women represent 66% of the 750 million adults who they attend school. without essential educational skills. Recently it is seen that some women are graduating with master's degrees. However, in the past, girls were not allowed to finish their high school diploma, so they did not develop an identity. This does much to widen the gap between men's and women's opportunities to reach senior positions. Women are rarely seen holding political positions or pursuing careers full of effort. In Lebanon, for example, women represent only 4.68% of the parliament and this percentage is not increasing significantly. Likewise, women represent only 23% of the world's politicians. It all started with the way we parent and educate. Parents and teachers do not encourage girls to set foot in “socially forbidden” fields because they do not perceive them as leaders and decision makers. So, girls grow up with low self-esteem about their abilities. They are not even allowed to dream; once they begin to develop ambitions they are directly fought and stopped. Furthermore, the burden of domestic work and socially classified jobs constitutes a barrier that prevents women from progressing in their work. To clarify further, society is more accepting of a male chef than a female chef, even though cooking is considered one of the household chores. These jobs should be given to women. Yet, the same society judges a woman and fights her if she wants to be an engineer, mechanic or builder. Therefore, the challenges faced by women in progressing in their careers are due to the generalization made by society. Humanities and Arts VS STEMTically, STEM fields are associated with male domination. Usually an individual's life is decided by socio-cultural factors; therefore the roles assigned to girls will be determined at the time of birth. Furthermore, these roles are the responsible factors that decide the degree of girls' participation in science and technology fields. Socially driven stereotypes are due to inherited and unconscious prejudices regarding women's abilities in scientific subjects. In schools, mentors direct females towards emotion-oriented specializations, while they direct males towardsscientific and technical specializations. Experiments have shown that girls experience greater emotional pressure and stress when taking a math test. Girls' performance is affected when they take a math test in an all-male classroom; however, their performance improves when the kids leave the room. Today statistics declare that only 27% of women study computer science and the percentages in other scientific fields are not even better. Many associate this with the lack of pioneering women in these fields, and this creates a vicious cycle. Girls' self-confidence is not strengthened because they do not receive enough support from their parental environment nor see enough role models to influence them. Compared to men, women represent only 30% of the world's researchers. Furthermore, studies have shown that women receive less support than men in their research. A survey of 130 countries found that female scientists were given less funding, lab space, office support and insurance for equipment and travel. However, in specialties that require nurturing (such as nursing and teaching), women excel. According to the US Census Bureau, 91% of nurses worldwide are women while only 9% are men. In contrast, only 5% of pilots in the world are women. Therefore, jobs that require more scientific skills are dominated by men, while careers that require assistance are controlled by women. Parents and mentors have set a rigid image of women's capabilities in the minds of the younger generation. As a result, under this system, girls doubt their abilities and ambitions every time they think about studying a major associated with boys. It's time to start fighting stereotypes and we need to create programs that encourage women to enter STEM fields. Gap in the workplace Gender stereotypes contribute to discrimination against women in the workplace. They dictate what employers tend to look for and expect from an employee. Employers are looking for specific talent in a genre; instead of looking for talent and opportunities in general regardless of gender. Women face poor presentation in top positions, poor promotions and benefits, and pay inequality. Studies in Europe have found that only 3% of the top 50 companies are led by women and for every 10 men only 1.5 women serve on corporate boards. Another study conducted in 2006 found that certain attributes are directly associated with a specific gender regardless of effort and performance. 953 managers were asked to assign 14 key leadership attributes to 2 categories: men and women. All attributes considered as caring behavior were assigned to males, while attributes considered competent to care were assigned to females. This explains the prejudice present in people's minds regardless of the results obtained. The gap also manifests itself in the wages received by men and women, and thus the vicious circle is rekindled. People in high-level positions tend to earn a higher salary, and since men hold these positions more than women, it is common to see higher salaries for men. Thus, previous problems should be resolved so as not to encounter new obstacles. Furthermore, top management positions require a lot of commitment and long working hours. It is difficult for women to find a work-life balance because they are expected to be responsible for the familyand of the house. Studies have found that women spend 26 hours a week caring for their families; however, males spend only 9 hours per week caring for their children. This gives males more opportunities to reach top positions and earn higher salaries. When women earn a lower salary than men, this keeps them financially dependent on men, thereby increasing prejudice and things continue to change without resolution. Another stage of discrimination occurs when women have to make more effort than men to be promoted or appreciated. Despite the progress seen regarding the wage gap, a woman still earns 79 cents for every dollar a man earns. In the absence of a logical rationale for this difference, women still find themselves discriminated against and not encouraged to invest their efforts and thoughts in certain jobs. Additionally, women are assigned supporting roles rather than top management positions. They are 21% less likely to be promoted to top positions than their male counterparts. Therefore, gender stereotypes are the main reason that prevents women from advancing and developing in their careers. Contribution by MediaToday, the media are one of the most powerful tools capable of spreading ideas and beliefs. Like any technology, media has its beneficial and non-beneficial sides. This contributes to accentuating gender stereotypes in the workplace, thus influencing the new generation rather than implying solutions. Recently, people's lives have been connected to all kinds of screens, so everything that appears on these screens has a great influence on the minds. Considering all types of media, TV, radio, magazines and social media, and regardless of the type, gender stereotypes are expressed in all of them. The media has always portrayed women as sexual objects and only emphasizes women's physical appearance. For example, in Mohammad Iskandar's song, he forbids his daughter from working because he assumes she will be subjected to sexual harassment by her boss. This song is widely popular among young people and teenagers. This will put fear in the minds of girls knowing that if they work they will be sexually harassed. This demotivates them to work and be independent. On the other hand, guys will tend to normalize the idea of ​​molesting a woman because it is accepted by society and the media. Research conducted by UN Women found that out of 100 countries, 46% of media contribute to promoting gender stereotypes while only 6% promote gender equality. Roles in Films It is quite obvious that women are underrepresented in the film industry. The media shows women in films as sexual objects, where women in the workplace are seen wearing revealing clothes and trying to seduce their boss. Although women make up 40% of the workforce in real life, they are only represented in 22.5% of workplace films. However, these 22.5% are assigned to lower roles than men. Women who filled these roles were shown 93% of the time carrying out typically feminine chores such as cleaning and grooming. Furthermore, women mostly occupy lower roles such as nurse, secretary or waitress. 89% of nurse roles are held by women, while as regards secretary roles; women represent 81%. A typical scene is where a nurse tries to save a patient but fails, and then a male doctor enters the room and manages to bring the patient back to life. Another scene is where a secretary works for a well-known businessman. Such scenes have a great impact on the younger generation;especially that TV occupies a large part of their time. Young girls who are exposed to such scenes are dangerously affected because it affects their point of view regarding professional socialization and considerably on clichés about sexual orientation and beliefs at work. Girls between 2 and 6 years are most affected; because at this age they start to form their gender identity and start playing gender games like cooking and cleaning. They grow up convinced that they cannot occupy a higher job position because their self-esteem has not been strengthened since they were still children. Language used It is well known that some words are more powerful than actions. Discrimination in the workplace is also reflected in the language used. The differences between the words used for women versus men also have great significance on career choice. For example, girls who have leadership skills are usually described as “bossy.” The word “ambitious” is considered an insult if said to a girl, but if said to a boy it will be considered a compliment. These expressions put additional pressure on women to be kind so as not to be judged by colleagues at work. They may also behave in a way that goes against their character. Additionally, when someone applies for a job they are likely to be described with different adjectives based on gender. Adjectives such as “remarkable,” “remarkable,” and “exceptional” are generally assigned to male candidates. However, attributes such as “kind”, “thoughtful” and “sensitive” are assigned to female candidates. Words like these tend to shape and form women's identities which distances them from jobs that judge their character. Researchers from Waterloo and Duke universities found that jobs containing male-themed words are mostly dominated by men. The same thing applies to women's jobs, so gender stereotypes are assigning jobs based on gender. Additionally, parents help assign careers to their children based on the language they use. They always call their daughters princesses; however, they call their boys by the titles "doctor", "engineer", and "captain". As a result, the language used with genders clearly shapes and shapes the identity of male and female decisions regarding their careers. Sexual Pressure and Harassment For working women, the workplace may be the most stressful place. They are under severe pressure from their boss, male colleagues or even society. All this pressure is due to the gender stereotypes present in the work. PressureOf course, females should be the only creatures on earth capable of giving birth and having children, except for some rare cases in birds. However, companies and societies manage to discriminate against women who need time to take care of their family. If a woman wants to take a vacation she will be fired, given a short term or deprived of her salary. These consequences constitute a major obstacle for women who are passionate about their work. In other scenarios, some companies fire pregnant women because they are considered disabled or will be taking maternity leave. Additionally, pregnant women or mothers are 100% less likely to be promoted, 79% less likely to be recommended for hire, and receive a salary of $10,000 less than their male counterparts. These percentages clearly show that employers' and societies' perceptions of women have a dangerous impact on their progress. Furthermore, women suffer differenttypes of pressure regarding their external appearance. Based on gender stereotypes, women are expected to be fully dressed and made up, otherwise they will be considered more “manly”. In one company (Price Waterhouse), an employer delayed promoting an employee because he considered her physical appearance unfeminine. She didn't feel comfortable wearing short dresses or wearing too much makeup and was therefore not promoted. If a woman wears revealing clothes and excessive make-up she will be described as “trying too hard”, on the other hand, if she neglects her physical appearance then she will be said to not care about her job. However, some jobs require employees to travel. Married women might apply for a position that requires extensive travel. Some women are accepted into this position because they are expected to be conservative and stay with their children overnight. Additionally, some husbands are jealous of their wives' male colleagues. Therefore, women are subjected to numerous stressful events from their employers, husbands and society in their work due to gender roles. Sexual Harassment Working in an uncomfortable atmosphere has a big impact on how women behave in the workplace. Sexual harassment is one of the most dangerous sources of danger. Because some men believe that women should always be ready to satisfy their needs, sexual harassment occurs frequently in the workplace. This causes a lot of psychological damage to women, thus pushing them to quit their jobs. According to research conducted by Jason Houle and colleagues, sexual harassment causes symptoms of depression and some mental problems such as insecurity and anger. These symptoms affect the employee's future progression, work productivity, and relationship with other work members. In addition to this, as movements to stop gender-based job classification began to increase; females have gained the courage to enter male-dominated fields. Meanwhile, the number of women in these sectors is still low and lower than that of men. According to the Women's Bureau, women represent 25% of sectors that are “socially” perceived as “male-oriented jobs”. Harassment in these camps is witnessed at higher rates than in more mixed camps because women will be subjected to more men. As The Law Offices states, a third of women in male-dominated jobs have experienced sexual harassment. This demotivates women to enter these fields, thus underscoring gender stereotypes and preventing women from pursuing their dream careers. For example, Sarah, a 27-year-old girl, works as an electrician, a job that should be “male”. She suffered sexual harassment from her boss. He sent her sexual messages and tried to physically assault her. When she officially reported this incident, the higher-ups blamed her and accused her of being the impetus behind her actions. Not taking these acts into consideration and enacting laws to stop them instead of blaming women is risky. Women will no longer speak, all they will do is quit their jobs and stay at home. However, when women leave their jobs and become unemployed due to harassment, financial hardship will arise in the long run. The “Me Too” movement reported that 30% of women who experienced sexual harassment developed long-term depression and anxiety. In a word, sexual harassment is capable of preventing women from pursuing their work and harming them. Counterargument On the other hand, the other view states that men are subject to negative effects due to., 18(3), 457-486.