Opression

Gender inequality inhibits individuals from performing tasks due to their gender. Sociologists often perform studies in which they observe inequality in the workplace and in family structures. At times, books and film may portray gender inequality and its effects. The film The Stepford Wives presents the issue of gender inequality. The main character, Joanna is a successful television producer. After an angry husband attempts to murder Joanna, she and her family move to the neighborhood called Stepford. Joanna observes the women in the neighborhood being subservient to their husbands. Since the women do not have jobs, they are able to take care of their homes and families. As time passes, Joanna becomes suspicious of the women’s behaviors, especially once one of her friends begins to act differently. Her friend, Bobbie, stops writing and begins to care for her family. Joanna discovers that the men got tired of their wives leading powerful lives, such as judges, so they forced the wives to become robots of become submissive to their husbands. The husbands are satisfied with oppressing their wives since it allows for them to become the dominant partner. By the end of the film, Joanna discovers that the woman who created Stepford created a robot husband and tried to perfect the community by forcing women to leave their jobs since she believed they put strains on couples’ relationships. Although gender inequality can be found in the work force, it is just as prevalent in the institution of family. However, the institution of family is more oppressive on men and women than work is.

Primarily, one must acknowledge what issues occur in both family and work institutions. Both structures contain factors which cause and aid in oppressing ...

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...ldren or for the elderly. Thus their work often becomes unappreciated by others. However, when men perform the same tasks, they are often praised and offered help by others. This inequality in the expectations for men and women in the family institution can have consequences for each gender. Since women are often not offered help or praised for the work they do for their families, they can develop stress which may lead to psychological or emotional problems. Even by simply having a family, men and women can be exploited by their jobs.

Around the 1900s, more women began to join the work force. For instance, during the different wars that occurred during the 1900s, such as World War 1, women began to take on jobs that were primarily for men. For instance, women began to become nurses for the war or they would work in factories to make equipment needed for the troops.