IMPACT OF GENDER

Impact of Gender Identity and Gender Difference on the Life Chances of Men and Women in Contemporary British Society

Impact of Gender Identity and Gender Difference on the Life Chances of Men and Women in Contemporary British Society

Introduction

Research indicates that women are closing some gaps in small increments, however there needs to be a quickening of the pace at which women are attaining top leadership positions. Recruitment practices, policy changes, and incentives are just some of the variables that need to be addressed in helping women break through the glass ceiling. Literature suggests that women desire stellar leadership roles, but are often not in an advantageous situation that allows them to be promoted into the upper echelons. Other literature also indicates that the change is not taking place quickly enough and that there should be a public outcry for institutional changes to occur that level the competition between the genders. Gender identity and gender difference have an impact on the life chances of men and women. Life chances can be defined as the opportunities people get to improve their life.

Discussion

Leadership is a relationship between those who aspire to lead and those who choose to follow. Effective leadership requires strong interpersonal skills; concern for building cooperative, trusting relationships; and use of behaviors traditionally viewed as feminine, such as supporting, developing, and empowering. Colleges and universities require leaders who can influence others and transform people's attitudes, thinking and behavior (Mattis, 2004, pp. 14-19).

Some scholars believe that the upcoming retirement of the very large cohort of predominantly White male administrators will provide an excellent opportunity for women to move from mid-level positions to senior-level positions. The advancement of women into leadership positions can be of great benefit. There are many advantages to having leadership positions held by women whom research has shown lead in ways that are relational, inclusive and transformational. Women focus on consensus building/power sharing, win-win solutions in conflict, promote diversity and build supportive environment which make subordinates feel important, included and energized (Kulich, et.al, 2007, pp. 582-601). These characteristics can transform organizations and the people who work in them.

Today we see that the principle of equal opportunities is not met in most organizations, since women have real problems in their access to economic, social and political sector, in comparison with men (Kulich, et.al, 2007, pp. 582-601). While it is true that in recent years there has been a major change in the human condition, namely that the work formerly performed by men and women were different, and now both men and women can do the same work. It is also true that men and women have different opportunities. This difference is mainly observed in positions of responsibility, for example, women are in charge of only 30 percent of companies (Kulich, et.al, 2007, pp. 582-601).

Throughout history, women have been repeatedly invisible, despite being instrumental in the economic, political, social and cultural development of societies. Reviewing the history of the birth of human rights, in the first instance, women were ...