From the moment one is born depending on sex s/he is tagged, labelled with either a pink or blue band, a visual indicator of biological sex, which arguably will determine how every person who comes into contact with the child, will interact with them. Every institution in society functions and regenerates these expectations, families, schools, businesses, the media, the law and politics. Thus gender structures every aspect of an individual’s life through social relationships and all forms of interaction with the wider society. In this sense socialisation can be problematic, an individuals gender construction may be based on inequality or the expectations of the socialising agents within a greater ideological society.

This essay will begin from the standpoint that western societies are dominated by patriarchal and po

Thus in just the same way as women are expected to be the ‘angel of the hearth’ (Walsh 1997) men are socially expected to be hunter gatherers, providers and so the breadwinner. This is because they are seen as being physically and mentally stronger. One cannot deny that there are marked differences between men and women however, the differences today are often the source of humour, which arguably undermines the debate where inequality of both the sexes are concerned.

However, masculinity is being challenged by the very notions of men both seeking time to care for their children and by an increased movement in employment stakes. It is possible now for children to see their mother as breadwinner, either through the personal choice of their parents or by forced unemployment. Abbott (p58) claims that there is an:

Women still find that employers expect them to behave in stereotypical ways. Moreover, sex stereotyping is largely the cause of workplace discrimination. Women have been rejected for jobs for being either a ‘bimbo’ or being ‘macho, harsh and aggressive’. (Walsh 1997 p307) in one case in America a Court ruled against an employer for denying a woman promotion for being too ‘macho’. In ruling against them the Court noted:

Some topics in this essay:
America Court, Mac Ghaill, , Nickie Charles, Cited Payne, Question’ Victorian, Opportunities Commission, William Stafford, Library E-Archives, Diane Eyer, care children, status quo, walsh 1997, cited payne 2000, victorian society, biological sex, idea women, inequality sexes, glass ceiling, wage gap, women workplace,