Go Make Me a Sandwich

In chapter 13 we learned about gender stratification, which is the unequal distribution of wealth, power, and privilege between men and women. Gender is the traits and social positions that come with being male or female. I, being female, have seen gender stratification in my life. For example in my household it has always been said that the guys do not do dishes, or any housework for that matter. My grandpa is also a strong supporter of gender stratification. As I was growing up he was always taking my brother fishing and hunting. When I asked him if I could go with him he said no because I am a girl. Eventually I stopped asking. But now, if you know me I am strong confident person and I don’t let people tell me I can’t do things just because I’m a girl. The guys in my school were also instigators of gender stratification. Their favorite thing to say to us girls was, “Go make me a sandwich.”

Women are also always looked at as sexual objects. Media doesn’t help this at all. This link will lead you to an article about the objectification of women in mass media.Objectification Commercials and television shows sexualize women and show them as subordinates to men. Girls in schools are being restricted because they are believed to be distracting to the boys. In my mind girls should be able to wear the clothes they want to wear (within reason) and be comfortable without having to change to make the boys’ environment more conducive. I believe boys should be taught not to sexualize every girl they see. In most schools girls have to have their shoulders covered. What is so sexual about a shoulder? I just don’t understand. For example there was a story going around social media about a teenage girl who was sent home from school for wearing leggings and a long baseball tee. This was just unbelievable to me. I also can’t believe the things guys think they can get away with. For example the other day I was walking down the road and this guy shouted to me “Hey baby!” I of course flipped him off. A lot of guys believe they can do and say whatever they want because they are males.

Women and men are also treated different in the work place. Here is a link to the women’s bureau with statistics on women in the workforce.Women's Bureau To this day women only make 77 cents to the dollar that men make. It is also hard for women to get higher paying jobs because employers believe that because they are women they should be home with their families. They also believe that women who have families cannot work as well as men can.

I don’t believe our society will ever be free of gender stratification. Although we have come a long way it will be years and years until men and women are even close to being equal in our society.