EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Equal Opportunities

Equal Opportunities

Introduction

Gender inequality can be defined as allowing people different opportunities due to perceived differences based solely on issues of gender. Gender discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual or group due to gender. Gender inequality and discrimination are generally discussed as pertaining to women, but anyone can experience gender-based inequality or discrimination.

Discussion

Gender inequality is also reinforced within the workplace. One major way this occurs is through gender discrimination. Gender discrimination is treating individuals differently specifically because of an individual's gender. In many developed countries, discrimination is illegal regardless of whether it is based on sex or gender or both sex and gender. (Cohen, 2008, 112)

The ways in which gender discrimination occurs tend to be subtle and complex. Gender discrimination is often difficult to prove. Gender discrimination in the workplace is the most widely discussed form of gender discrimination and will be the focus of the remainder of this entry. While gender discrimination is generally thought of in terms of female workers being discriminated against, men are also vulnerable to gender discrimination. For example, a male who wishes to become a nurse may be discriminated against because men are generally not considered nurturing and caring.

In modern democratic societies with market economies, egalitarianism usually refers to a position that favours a greater degree of equality of income and wealth across individuals than already exists. The focus on equality is that of results, according to which people should be made more nearly equal in actual circumstances. This contrasts with equality of opportunity or equality before the law—ideas more commonly associated with modern libertarianism and classical liberalism—where the freedom and rights of the individual are paramount and of utmost concern in matters of political affairs. (Darwall, 1995, 67)

Many egalitarians have been suspicious of equal formal rights, pointing to the substantive inequalities they may disguise or exacerbate. The insistence on redistribution toward equalities of income, wealth, capabilities, or life chances shares common ground with socialism. Critics have maintained, however, that egalitarianism necessarily diminishes aspects of freedom in unacceptable ways. (Jacobs, 2004, 99)

For instance, libertarian arguments claim that redistributive measures to equalize property involve a constant and extensive infringement of some individuals' Lockean rights, constraining their liberty to enjoy the fruits of their own labour and to gain more property than others by trade, inheritance, or assiduousness. Egalitarian rejoinders argue that goods such as money give one the positive freedom to engage in a wide variety of activities and experiences; thus, little justification can be made for why people should not be able to enjoy this effective freedom to the same extent. (Dworkin, 2000, 12)

Modern liberalism and libertarianism differ greatly in their understandings of the responsibilities of the state, yet they both trace their roots to the liberal ideals that emerged during the 17th century in Europe. Liberalism was the key political innovation of the early modern period. During the middle Ages, social and political life was characterized by inequality and submission.

Equality also has different ...