Module 4 Case Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Module 4 Case - Assignment Example Simultaneously, ability based compensation structure has increased significant notoriety in the course of the most recent decades, particularly since 1987. Notwithstanding, the greater part of the associations are as of now utilizing market-based compensation structure. Module 4 Case Assignment Pay is viewed as one of the key components influencing the board worker relationship at the working environment. The level and circulation of pay alongside benefits is accepted to force extensive effect on the effectiveness of any association and furthermore on the assurance just as on the profitability of the working environment. It is accordingly, vital for associations to utilize fitting compensation frameworks that give worth to cash and remunerate laborers decently for the work that they perform. As a rule, pay frameworks are the strategies for paying individuals for their commitment that they make towards the associations. It is basic that a perfect compensation framework is clear and ea sy to be followed, so laborers are happy with the compensation framework embraced by the associations and are roused to play out their separate assignments with most extreme devotion and duty. With this worry, this paper expects to look into the two compensation framework to be specific expertise based compensation structure and conventional occupation based structure. Besides, this paper endeavors to recognize the most well known compensation structure, which is right now being followed in today’s associations (Acas, 2012). ... ills required to play out certain hierarchical errands are recognized and tests are created to decide if an individual has taken in the aptitudes associated with playing out a specific undertaking. Unexpectedly, in customary occupation based compensation structure, pay is commonly founded on a vocation, wherein workers are qualified to get pay, regardless of whether they are not talented in playing out any undertaking. Be that as it may, ability based compensation structure doesn't really bar paying for singular execution, rather it includes assessing singular execution for surveying employees’ aptitudes towards specific errands for which they are paid. In any case, under ability based compensation structure, pay is dictated by the blend and the profundity of the aptitudes that have by an individual as opposed to a specific activity task. Simultaneously, associations applying ability based compensation structure are regularly experienced with challenges, when they attempt to v alue aptitudes in the commercial center when contrasted with conventional occupation based compensation structure. In addition, under customary occupation based compensation structure, employees’ pay changes with the adjustment in the activity, while in aptitude based compensation structure, employees’ pay doesn't modify notwithstanding the adjustment in the activity position. Simultaneously, representatives under occupation based compensation structure may as often as possible see disparities in the compensation framework because of the manner in which the employments are characterized and evaluated for pay purposes. Then again, when workers become acclimated with expertise based compensation structure, a large portion of the representatives incline toward it over conventional employment based compensation structure. The component of rank go about as a significant determinant in customary employment based compensation structure, while in ability based compensation str ucture, aptitudes instead of position is viewed as the prime factor of deciding the compensation

American Revolution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

American Revolution - Essay Example The British strategies caused divisions in the American colonist’s group since they didn't realize which venture of move to make. The French and the British were the primary powers in conflict for the American domain and in this way, battled a progression of wars with the last war being the French and Indian wars or the seven years’ war. It was known as the seven years’ war since the French hand accumulated help of two Indian clans, the Huron and the Algonquian, who battled against the British supporting Iroquois. Prior to this, be that as it may, it was expected that the war would last longer than prior foreseen and along these lines, the Albany Congress was sorted out under the consolation of Britain. The primary plan for the congress was to keep the Iroquois clan faithful to the British. This was accomplished by keeping the Iroquois clan at the core of issues during the congress, examining issues that influenced both them and the British pioneers. The Albany p lan got disliked and unaccepted since the settlers had their personal matters on a basic level and would not like to withdraw control and capacity to the common congress(Alden, pp. 25-30). What were a portion of the occasions or thoughts that prompted the American war of freedom? The primary explanation behind the war of freedom was the endeavor by British homesteaders to oversee the American economy by controlling American exchange and enterprises so as to suit Britain’s interests. This was upheld in the inconvenience of assessments on merchandise and ventures just as the development of individuals and these products starting with one district then onto the next. Additionally, English exchange and route acts just permitted travel of products sent from America in English boats. England, in this way, consumed travel which didn't settle well with Indian and British homesteaders. The entirety of this was focused on repayment of Britain’s cash that had been spent during the war. The main explanation the British had developed successful was that their treasury had outlived that of the French. This

Important Writing Tips For Using Vietnam War Essay Topics

Important Writing Tips For Using Vietnam War Essay TopicsSometimes you are asked to write essays on Vietnam War topics. Many colleges and universities have Vietnam War units in their undergraduate curriculum and in some university departments or programs. The topics vary, from WWII and WWI, to the Spanish American War, to the Vietnam War.If you are assigned to write a paper on the Vietnam War, you should think about how you will write it. First of all, this war is very different from World War II, which has an article in the dictionary that defines it as a 'Great War.' You will be writing about something far more personal and emotional than the standard classroom essay, such as a relationship between two people.Therefore, your essay will have to deal with more personal issues. Your essay will have to deal with the Vietnam War as a tragic part of our history. To be sure, it is also a national tragedy, though the true cost of that war is much more difficult to assess. You need to think hard about the meaning of the whole Vietnam War experience for you.The most common topics for a Vietnam War essay are the history of the war, its consequences, and the lives of those who were involved in it. Some questions you should ask yourself when writing your essay will help you be more effective. For example, how long were you a student at Berkeley? Was your family have any connection to the Vietnam War? Are you considering a doctorate in one of the humanities?A second question to ask yourself is whether you feel confident about your academic writing. If so, you may be more confident when tackling your Vietnam War topics. Perhaps, you have some references you can refer to. You also need to consider whether you are comfortable presenting the information you need to.You need to consider what information you will provide in your essay topics. Do you know about people who were directly involved in the war? How many were killed in action? What about prisoners of war?Consider how y ou will write your essay. Write your essay first in a writer's journal. That way, you can use your writing skills without making mistakes that will make your readers unable to understand your essay.After you have written a particular story, carefully transcribe it to the tape recorder. Take a lot of notes and write a lot of sentences. You can add some professional editing later on. Only in the case of course, if the essay writing was not done professionally.

Motives of Exploration of the New World Essay - 823 Words

Until the late 1400s, Europeans did not know the existence of the two American continents ( North and South America ). To the European explorers, exploring the other side of the Atlantic was like exploring an entire different world, hence the name- the New World. In 1492, Christopher Columbus unknowingly discovered the new continent. His original motives for exploring was to find an easier route to Asia but instead, he discovered the New World. Thus; Spain, France and England began sending out conquistadors and explorers to the uncharted terrains of the new continent. Motives for the Spanish, French, and English explorers varied greatly, however, they were similar in some ways. The motives of the Spanish explorers were acquisition of†¦show more content†¦The New World offered ownership of land and thrill of adventure. During the 16th century, a great deal of exploring was spent on searching for the fabled ‘El Dorado, which is defined as a place of vast riches or abunda nce. Like the Spanish power, France was impelled by a desire to spread Christianity, to find wealth, and to counter the efforts of other nations. France also hoped to find a new water route to the East through the North American Continent. French explorers sailed down the St. Lawrence, across the waterways of Canada, through the Great Lakes, and finally to the Mississippi River and its vast drainage system. They did not find the Northwestern Passageway but found endless forests filled with fur-bearing animals and Indians eager to trade instead. Using the animals as a resource, the French became prominent in the New World mainly with fur trade. Unlike explorers such as Soto and colonizers at Roanoke, the traders realized the importance of dealing with the Indians and was consequently more successful. And from the fur trade, trading posts were established. The friars brought Christianity to the Indians. The French missionaries had a less lasting influence on the native population than the Spanish. They did not find any major missions but instead had many temporary mission stations, where priests read masses and performed sacraments. Motives forShow MoreRelatedCauses Of The Age Of Exploration1112 Words   |  5 Pages The geographical exploration was a period of time when European states began exploring the world. The European exploration known as the Age of Discovery, or the Age of Exploration began in the early fifteenth century and extended throughout the late sixteenth century. During this time, European nations discovered new routes. This led to the discovering of trade from different places outside of Europe. Europe exploration expanded to places such as the Americas, Africa, and much of the Far East. ManyRead MoreCause And Effects Of The Age Of Exploration1669 Words   |  7 PagesThe Age of Exploration, or sometimes known as the Age of discovery, began in the 1400s and continued throughout the 1700s. These expeditions took a great deal of man power, money, and technology. Many ships were only able to cover about one hundred miles a day, making the duration of these voyages long, taking years to complete. During this period Europeans began to explore various parts of the world via sea. Mo st of the men did not join these voyages willingly, they were forced into service andRead MoreColonization Of The United States1074 Words   |  5 Pageshistory themes of exploration, encounter and exchange in the Americas. From the beginning of colonization, in 1492 by Christopher Columbus, to the establishment of the first American colony, Jamestown in 1607, and to the creation of the thirteen colonies, there have been countless examples of exploration, encounter and exchange. The exploration of vast waters and unchartered territory led to new and undiscovered land and America being colonized. During this time of exploration, explorers encounteredRead MoreSpanish Dbq Essay649 Words   |  3 PagesDiya Daswani October 4, 2012 AP European History Coach Freeman Spanish Conquistadors Different motives throughout the time of exploration leading to the New World affected Spanish attitudes against natives by not only focusing on gold, glory, and God, but by strength and power as well. The age of exploration to the new world was dominated by the Spanish conquistadors. Their success in new discoveries brought great power and strength to Spain. In most circumstances, a country would do anythingRead MoreThe Expansion Of A Nation State Beyond The World1389 Words   |  6 Pageswelcomed it. The motives that fueled the spark of colonization were economic, ethnocentric and for the sake of prestige and natural security. Though scientific exploration fits in a very small area of these motives, it was a motive nonetheless. Exploring any new land will lead to discoveries of new medicines, new wildlife, new landmasses; these discoveries were essential in colonization. As Edward Said explains â€Å"an act of geographical violence through which virtually every space in the worl d is exploredRead MoreThe Origins Of European Exploration Essay774 Words   |  4 PagesEuropean Exploration Approximately 1300-1550 European Exploration really began to become a big deal in the 1400s but without the 1300s and a few years before, the big picture would not be seen. There were a few instances of explorers â€Å"finding† or colonizing an area before the 1400s. These seem to be left out when talking about the era of European exploration. I feel that this is because the people after them made a bigger impact to be remembered. 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We have to explore to find out what’s out there right? We could potentially obtain so much knowledge, and so many resources. You can only obtain the maximum potential of something i f your motives and ideology are correct. A great example of someone who had the potential to do so much good, and obtain so much greatness was a Chinese admiral by the name of Zheng He. Zheng He watched his father die at the hand of the

Nike And The Production Process Essay - 894 Words

Nike Sweatshops With a slogan of â€Å"Just Do It,† Nike is known all over the world for its products ranging from apparel to shoes. Receiving recognition and sponsorship from various celebrities and athletes including Michael Jordan, Nike’s brand is generally associated in a positive light. However, the brand itself, variety of products, and numerous sponsors exist as only a few aspects of this continuously expanding brand. Another aspect to consider when addressing the overall existence of a product as well as the constant introduction of new products is the production process itself: how the product came to be, who is involved in creating the product, and where the product is produced. The production process is generally not one of the thoughts a consumer pays attention to when purchasing a product because it is the part of a product that is behind the scenes; unknown to the consumer. Obtaining the product to satisfy a need/want is the main concern of the consumer. However, it is crucial for the consumer to know how the product was created and who was involved in the process because after all, if the production process did not exist, the product would not exist, and ultimately neither would the brand. It is not a secret that many of the products sold in the United States are made in China. However, it may be a surprise to find out what kinds of conditions the workers producing these various products actually have to deal with. Nike products are produced in China inShow MoreRelated Commodity Chain Analysis of Nike Shoes Essay1621 Words   |  7 PagesCommodity chain analysis of a Nike Shoe Introduction Since its creation, Nike has proven itself as a popular brand and it has created niches by selling products such as footwear, apparels and various types of sports equipment. This paper will attempt to trace the product development of Nike shoes from its origins in conception and design to the manufacturing and production process located in contract factories in developing countries to advertising and marketing of Nike as a cultural commodity andRead MoreHow Does Nike Improve The Quality And Reduce Carbon Emissions?1345 Words   |  6 Pagessafety, and workforce development. Thus, Nike appreciates and follows ongoing improvement in these areas as can be seen throughout this report. Based on energy and GHG emissions, there is dramatic impact of climate change, so Nike sets a new plan with scientific program to improve the quality and to reduce carbon emissions. In the past, the company’s material stage of value chain and in manufacturing lead to biggest energy and carbon impact. In the process, the company made products by loosing muchRead MoreNike Shoes : Product Information1296 Words   |  6 Pages11/15/2014 Accounting 102 (online), Professor Erdkamp | Tiffany Ly C02224449 Product Information I. A Summary About Nike II. Why I Chose Nike Footwear for This Project III. Overview of the Manufacturing Process I. A Summary about Nike Nike, Inc. is known worldwide for its exquisite line of footwear, apparel, equipment, and many other various athletic products. This company is the largest and most successful seller of footwear for people of all ages and all types of recreational, athletic andRead MoreNike Corporation Essay732 Words   |  3 Pagesorg/files/u5/LRNGlobalIntegrity.pdf Nike Corporation In this essay, I will attempt to present an analysis of the ethics and social responsibility issues that an organization can face when it is a global organization. One of the most recognized organizations globally would without a doubt have to be the Nike Corporation. 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Nike is one of, if not, the biggest athletic and sportswear company in the world. Their products range from shoes to apparel, and recently software. They have over 700 shops around the world and has offices suited in forty five countries outside the United States. They also have many factories where they produce their products, most of them comingRead MoreCross Cultural Perspective – Nike Corporation Essay1121 Words   |  5 PagesCross Cultural Perspective – Nike Corporation In this essay, I will attempt to present an analysis of the ethics and social responsibility issues that an organization can face when it is a global organization. One of the most recognized organizations globally would without a doubt have to be the Nike Corporation. Several years ago the Nike Corporation came under fire for using child labor in Pakistan and Cambodia to make their soccer balls. Because Nike came under fire for this unethical and inhumaneRead MoreNike Case Study Essay856 Words   |  4 PagesNike Case Study 1.) List the various macro-environmental factors that influence Nike’s strategy. Which seem most pertinent? The macro-environmental factors that influence Nike’s strategy include culture, demographics, social issues, technological advances, economic situation, and political and regulatory environment.    Culture is the shared meanings, beliefs, morals, values and customs of a group of people. In America, Nike has become an industry leader that influences our culturalRead MoreCars And Process Costing System928 Words   |  4 PagesPart 1: Vans and Process Costing System In manufacture, determining unit production cost plays an important role. Through a managerial cost system, managers use cost data to plan, control, and make decisions with the goal to gain the highest profit. Managerial cost system includes two common methods: process costing and job order costing. Job order cost is used to cost specific products or group of products whereas process costing is used for the mass production of similar products. Vans, a manufacturerRead MoreNike s Code Of Conduct934 Words   |  4 PagesIn addition, Nike, Inc.’s Code of Conduct also states that its subcontractors must provide â€Å"a safe, hygienic and healthy workplace setting and [take the] necessary steps to prevent accidents and [injuries] [†¦]† (Nike, Inc.,†Code of Conduct†). In 2013, following another company’s factory catching fire in Bangladesh, killing 112 people in the process, two of Nike’s vice-presidents flew to Bangladesh to assess the situation in their own factories (Banjo). Seeing as their buildings were not safe, the

Tree of Knowledge Free Essays

The Tree of Knowledge It is important for society to find a reliable source of knowledge, as it is a powerful factor which helps society to attain success. As a good example of the significance of knowledge for society, the Tree of Knowledge from the Garden of Eden represents, not just a source of absolute knowledge, but how desperately human nature seeks that perfect source. However, the Tree of Knowledge does not exist in the real world. We will write a custom essay sample on Tree of Knowledge or any similar topic only for you Order Now Thus, society is facing a problem of finding the most effective way to produce accurate knowledge because mistaken knowledge has no value. In his essay â€Å"The Hive,† historian and writer Marshall Poe points out two sources for knowledge: social consensus and experts. In the past, it was hard to gather knowledge efficiently due to equivocation, and experts were considered to be the most reliable source of knowledge. But today, the Internet has provided society with the convenient environment for finding and storing information. In his essay, Poe discusses the phenomenon of the web-site Wikipedia as an example of a successful effort in collaborative knowledge, which is produced during the process of communication and negotiation by society and experts concerning the information regarding an object of study. A professor at Harvard University and author of â€Å"Reporting Live from Tomorrow,† Daniel Gilbert suggests relying on the experiences of others, whom he calls â€Å"surrogates,† in order to obtain more reliable knowledge. Collaborative knowledge is based on society’s collective experiences. It is meant to accumulate and constantly update information from society. On the other hand, experts are a key for progress in society as they perform deeper research about a subject. Therefore, in order to produce reliable knowledge, society must consult with experts, while experts should consider the experiences of other people when conducting their research. It might seem at the first sight that the only reliable source of knowledge are experts, as they have more intense and prolonged experiences through practice and education in a particular field. Therefore, it is a common belief that in order to obtain true knowledge, society has to rely on the competence of experts. In his essay, Poe says that one of the criticisms of Wikipedia in its early stage was the point that â€Å"unless experts were writing and vetting the material, the articles were inevitably going to be inaccurate† (Poe 275). However, human history provides evidence that refutes this statement by proving that what once was considered as absolute knowledge was later questioned. For example, in the 18th century, Isaac Newton’s laws of motion became a revolution in a scientific world and for the next 200 years they remained incontestable until Albert Einstein introduced his ideas that revealed shortcomings of Newton’s theory. Thus, society cannot blindly rely on the conclusions of experts because, at their core, they are like all other people who â€Å"pass along [their] beliefs in an effort to create people whose minds think like [theirs]† (Gilbert 171). According to Gilbert, â€Å"almost any time we tell anyone anything, we are attempting to change the way their brains operate – attempting to change the way they see the world so that their view of it more closely resembles our own† (Gilbert 171). Experts attempt to do same thing, but their reputation in society gives their ideas an advantage to be successfully transmitted and accepted as knowledge. Still, accuracy of this knowledge might be questionable in the future. In order to understand how society decides if a certain idea or belief can become knowledge, it is important to look at the process of producing knowledge. Individuals generate personal beliefs from their own views. However, these views are based on already existing socio-cultural knowledge. Afterwards, using shared language, individuals bring their ideas and beliefs to society by making public statements. Further, these beliefs may become knowledge through social interaction, communication, discussion, clarification, and negotiation. According to Gilbert, â€Å"any belief †¦ that increases communication has a good chance of being transmitted over and over again† (Gilbert 173). Therefore, social interaction is a medium that allows ideas to become a part of collaborative knowledge. However, in his essay, Gilbert points out that while â€Å"accurate beliefs give [society] power, which makes it easier to understand why they are so readily transmitted from one mind to another,† false beliefs have a great chance to be propagated if they â€Å"happen to promote stable societies †¦ because people who hold these beliefs tend to live in stable societies, which provide the means by which false beliefs propagate† (Gilbert 173). Thus, even false ideas may become knowledge if society decides so. Such decisions might lead to absurd conclusions that have no value for society. According to Poe, â€Å"the community decides that two plus two equals four the same way it decides what apple is: by consensus †¦ [but] if the community changes its mind and decides that two plus two equals five, then two plus two does equal five† (Poe 275). In other words, society has an ability to make judgments of truth and falsehood, and knowledge produced by social consensus can be misleading and inaccurate. Nevertheless, inaccurate knowledge, sooner or later, will be revealed and questioned by society because the primary purpose of knowledge is to serve the needs of society and help it to improve and grow. Individuals, as well as the whole society, can only attain success and progress if they have a reliable source of knowledge. It is a strong incentive that makes people search for truth. In his essay, Poe points out that people who contribute into Wikipedia have â€Å"no interest other then truth in doing all this work† (Poe 277). Today, the vast interconnectedness of the Internet makes it possible for individuals from all over the world to share their experiences and ideas on the global level. Thereby, collaborative knowledge can be constantly negotiated, updated, and renegotiated, and its quality may improve just like â€Å"the quality on articles [in Wikipedia] generally increases with the number of eyeballs† (Poe 276). As the process of producing collaborative knowledge improves its reliability, efficiency, and fecundity with the new era of Internet technologies, it creates a very valuable database for experts, who can use collaborative knowledge as a resource of information and experiences collected by society for expertise. According to Gilbert, â€Å"humanity is a living library of information about what it feels like to do just about anything† (Gilbert 171). Every individual possesses a great deal of unique accumulative knowledge that he or she gained throughout life. That is why experiences of other individuals should be taken into account by experts in order to produce more accurate and objective knowledge. Today, in the Internet environment, it has become much easier to find surrogates with particular experiences. Experts should consider these experiences during their research and constantly update their data and information based on collaborative knowledge. On the other hand, the fact that the Internet has gained so much popularity in society might make people neglect the role of experts in the process of producing knowledge. Since it has become relatively easy to find surrogates in the virtual environment and ask them directly about their experiences, collaborative knowledge might be sufficient enough to fulfill society’s needs as a dependable source of knowledge. In his essay, Poe points out that given the right technology, large groups of self-interested individuals will unite to create something they could not produce by themselves† (Poe 267). Wikipedia is a good example of this phenomenon. â€Å"Instead of relying on experts to write articles according to their expertise, Wikipedia lets anyone write about anything† (Poe 264). Based on a large number of individuals who are constantly working on improving articles and people’s tendencies to strive for truth, Wikipedia could become the end of the search for a reliable source of knowledge. However, it is important not to underestimate the role of experts in society. In his essay, Gilbert noticed that, if you ask a child what to do when an individual is hesitating about making some decision, the child will say that â€Å"[he or she] should ask the teacher† (Gilbert 170). Throughout all human history, experts were called in for advice on their respective subject because of their extensive knowledge or ability based on research, experience, or occupation in a particular area of study. Their knowledge and experiences are already unique, simply because experts spend more time studying the subject than an average person. It explains the fact that most innovations in human society were made by experts. Moreover, by collecting and systematizing experiences of other individuals, experts serve as surrogates for society as well. Overtime, results of their research projects accepted as knowledge become a part of social consensus. Thereby, expertise is still very important and must be taken into consideration by society as a source of knowledge. In order to be completely reliable, knowledge requires absolute certainty, as opposite to belief or opinion about which there is more doubt. However, as a process of social communication, knowledge is never absolute. Although its character is to be taken as final truth, knowledge remains as a subject of possible future questioning, reinterpretation, and negotiation. The Tree of Knowledge, as a source of true knowledge, is an unattainable aim for society. Neither expertise nor collaborative knowledge alone can be considered as the best way to produce knowledge. Only their collaboration can bring the most reliable results. Today, the Internet helps to speed up the processes of communication, storage, and negotiation of information that play a significant role in producing collaborative knowledge and positively affecting its quality. Thus, referring to society’s collaborative experience, experts can produce more objective and reliable knowledge. Works Cited Gilbert, Daniel. â€Å"Reporting Live from Tomorrow. † Emerging: Contemporary Readings for Writers. Ed. Barclay Barrios. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010. 169-189. Print. Poe, Marshall. â€Å"The Hive. † Emerging: Contemporary Readings for Writers. Ed. Barclay Barrios. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010. 264-277. Print. How to cite Tree of Knowledge, Papers

Gender Inequality Essay Example

Gender Inequality Essay In this essay this writer will look at the sociological perspectives on gender inequality in society. The theories of gender include: Functionalist, Feminist and Conflict Theories. One will look at these individually later. Following on from that one will examine what sociology has revealed about gender relations in Irish society. One will look at this in relation to education in detail and will also take a short look at employment and politics. Firstly one will look at what gender is.Gender is the word used to describe social and personality differences between women and men. It refers to that which society defines as masculine and feminine. While sex refers to the biological differences between male and female, gender refers to the socially constructed and variable categories of masculine and feminine. Smith (1979) has argued that the notions of what femininity is and what masculinity is are used as the basis for interacting with girls/women and boys/men both in terms of expectatio ns and the behaviour that is encouraged or discouraged and punished.Boys/men are expected to be domineering, aggressive, noisy and active, whereas girls/women are expected to be caring, quiet and less assertive. These very characteristics are then those that are seen to differentiate men and women in terms of employment. ( Payne 2006:66) R Connell reveals the gender order of contemporary society: Men are the world leaders, policemen, private security and military, women are the housekeepers and child caregivers. They are lower paid and work as repairers of the consequences of violence as nurses, psychologists and social workers.He challenges us to overturn our assumptions that gender distinction is natural, unchanging and fixed. He also points to the prevalence of gender ambiguity in society; masculine women, feminine men, homosexuality, women who are heads of households, men who bring up children, women soldiers, male nurses. He argues that sustaining the gender categories also sus tains the inequalities e. g. income inequalities, wealth and power in the hands of men and unequal respect. The following are the sociological perspectives on gender inequality in society: Functionalist TheoryFunctionalists believe that society is held together by social consensus or cohesion, in which members of the society agree upon and work together to achieve what is best for society as a whole. Each aspect of society is interdependent and contributes to society’s functioning as a whole e. g. The government or state provides education for the children of the family, who in turn pay taxes on which the state depends to keep itself functioning. This approach concentrates on the roles within the family.Women by their very nature play a central role in the rearing of children. The male would be viewed as the breadwinner and the female viewed as the carer/nurturer. Talcott Parsons, a leading functionalist thinker held the view that the family operates most efficiently with a c lear-cut sexual division of labour in which females act in expressive roles, providing care and security to children and offering them emotional support. Men should perform instrumental roles – namely being the breadwinner in the family.Parsons referred to the roles of men and women as instrumental roles and expressive roles respectively. Functionalists like Durkheim believed that for a society to survive, its various social processes, must net smoothly together to meet the system’s needs. (McDonald 2006:20) Functionalists have been criticised for interpreting gender as a fixed role in society, however, this theory presumed that the arrangement where men filled instrumental roles in society and women filled expressive roles worked to the benefit of society.Feminist Theory Feminism can be defined as being a critique of society based on the inequalities that exist through gender roles and assumptions. (McDonald 2006:24) Feminism has many meanings, but essentially it refe rs to beliefs and actions that support justice, fairness and equality for all women, regardless of their race, age or class. In contrast to the functionalist theory, feminists view limiting women’s role to expressive functions and men’s to instrumental functions as dysfunctional for both men and women.According to Ahmed et al. (cited in Marsh 2002:257), ‘Feminism is not one set of struggles: it has mobilised different women in different times and places, who are all seeking transformations, but who are not necessarily seeking the same thing, nor even responding to the same situation. ’ (McDonald 2006:24) The five feminist theories are: Radical feminism – Patriarchy is the basis for women’s powerlessness Marxist/Socialist feminism – gender inequality stems from class relationsLiberal feminism – inequality is the result of formal barriers to equal opportunity Black feminism – oppression is due to gender, race and class Psyc hoanalytic – gender inequality comes from early childhood experiences I will now look at two of these theories in more detail. I have chosen Radical feminism and Liberal feminism. Radical feminism Radical feminist theory contends that men physically, sexually and psychologically victimise women mainly because they desire to control them.Radical feminists see male control of all women through patriarchy as the main problem. They argue that women must struggle to free themselves from the control of male institutions. (Share, Tovey , Corcoran 2007:248) â€Å" For Walby, patriarchy is ‘a system of social structures and practices in which men dominate, oppress and exploit women†. (Giddens 2009:618) She identified two distinct forms of patriarchy: Private and public patriarchy. Private patriarchy is the domination of the woman in the home while excluding her from society.Public patriarchy, on the other hand (4) is allowing women to become involved in public life, such as employment and politics but not letting them reach the same standards as their male counterparts by keeping them segregated from wealth power and status. Radical feminism argues that patriarchy is very difficult to eradicate because its root (the belief that women are different and inferior) is deeply embedded in most men’s consciousness. The theory contends that men physically, sexually and psychologically victimise women mainly because they desire to control them.While on the whole it may have shifted focus from the private to the public realm it is still a thorn in society. â€Å"As Walby has stated ‘Liberated from the home, women now have the whole of society in which to be exploited†. (Giddens 2009:618) Liberal feminism Liberal feminism claims that gender differences are not based in biology and therefore that women and men are not all that different. Their argument is if women and men are not all that different then they should not be treated differently under the law. Women should have the same rights as men and the same educational and work opportunities.Liberal feminists are concerned to uncover the immediate forms of discrimination against women and to fight for legal and other reforms to overcome them. They tend to focus on mainstream methods of bringing about social change, such as political lobbying, use of the media and working through existing political business and bureaucratic structures. (Share, Tovey, Corcoran 2007:246) This movement is motivated by the fact that society, characterised by male domination in all spheres of life, undermines the value of equal rights by positioning women in the workplace according to traits associated with feminine personalities i. . nursing, teaching and clerical work. Women are often deemed as incapable of other jobs, which are linked with masculine personality. They are more often paid less even though they perform the same job. Liberal feminists contend that women are discriminated ag ainst on the basis of their sex, so they are denied access to the same political, financial and personal opportunities as men. The argument is that if women are given the same opportunity as men and freedom of choice, they can maintain equality with men. Conflict TheoryThis theory concentrates on ‘the structure of society and explains individual actions in terms of the social structure in which they are located’. This approach is based on division or inequality in society. Marx’s work looked at conflict in society ( McDonald 2006:21) The conflict perspective, which originated primarily out of Karl Marx’s writings on class struggles focuses on the negative, conflicted and ever changing nature of society. Conflict theorists challenge the status quo, encourage social change and believe powerful people force social order on the poor and weak.The dominance of the most advantaged group even extends to the point of shaping the beliefs of others, by controlling pu blic information and influencing institutions such as education and religion, where beliefs and ideas are produced. (Anderson, Taylor 2006:21) They note that unequal groups usually have conflicting values and agendas, causing them to compete against one another. The constant competition between groups forms the basis for the ever changing nature of society. This theory focuses on why gender inequality persists even though men and women are not tied to traditional roles as they might have been the case in earlier times.It suggests that men continue to dominate women because of their greater control over economic, political and social resources. Gender relations and education Gender is central to the experience of education. People’s experiences of ‘being a boy’ or ‘being a girl’ are shaped in many ways by the experience of schooling. (Share, Tovey, Corcoran 2007:221). Children’s experience in education is paramount to shaping their concepts of gender roles and their comprehension of the choices and roles available to them in a wider social context. This is why it is important to expose them to both female and male educators and peers.Children spend a lot of time in school so they require the practical witnessing of gender roles. The school needs to reflect the social world in which men and women play their part. As is the case in Ireland, primary school teaching is primarily a female profession although there has been a move to entice more males into the profession also. ‘In January 2006, Minister Mary Hanafin launched the Men as teachers and educators campaign (MATE). She maintained that increasing the number of male primary teachers would be good for pupils, schools, the teaching profession and society generally’. Department of Education and Skills 2006) Increasing feminisation of the profession leads to the isolation of male teachers. â€Å"Other disincentives to Primary teaching for males were thought to be the sense of isolation in schools and the fact of working with mainly females†. (National Conference Report 2004:7) However even though males don’t hold many teaching posts in comparison to their female counterparts it is men who make up the majority of senior and higher paying posts at all levels of education. When we look at schooling itself, the question is which benefits students more.Is it single sex school or coeducation? There has been considerable debate about the merits of coeducation in terms of its ‘overall’ benefits and whether it favours boys or girls or both. (Share, Tovey, Corcoran 2007:224). One would have to reason that students would benefit more from coeducation as the exposure to both males and females will help them learn more about gender relations. It enables them to get to know each other better earlier and hopefully help to avoid or eliminate any prejudices about the opposite sex.In the interest of society coeducation makes more sense as it promotes the concept of equality between the two sexes and it leaves students better prepared for the real world. â€Å"In Ireland today about 70% of primary level and 62% of post primary students are educated in coeducational environments†. ( Share, Tovey, Corcoran, 2007:224) â€Å"When it comes to school leavers, the male rate for 2007, in the age group, 18-24 was 14. 2%, which was much higher than their female counterparts at 8. 7%†. Central Statistics Office 2010) It seems that boys from working class backgrounds are the most likely to leave school early. While in school boys are more inclined to opt for ‘masculine subjects’ such as mathematics, science and technology while girls opt for more care related or ‘feminine subjects’ like home economics. There had been the belief that girls weren’t capable of undertaking or achieving high grades in the so called masculine subjects but of course it is becoming increasingly obv ious that they are more than capable of doing so.There has been no extensive analysis of the relationship between masculinity and education. Perhaps ironically this has only now started to occur as girls have begun to significantly outperform boys in public examinations. ( Share, Tovey, Corcoran 2007:222) Girls scored more top grades in almost all subjects at higher level in the Leaving Cert, according to a gender breakdown of the 2010 results from the State Examinations Commission. The superior results from female exam students is an international phenomenon, but nonetheless one that raises concerns about boy’s performance.As well as getting more top grades, girls are less likely than boys to fail to get an exam. (Irish Independent 2010) When it came to third level, men accounted for around 84% of graduates in Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction and 60% of graduates in Science. Women accounted for 79% of graduates in Health and Welfare, 76% in education and 65% in Ar ts and Humanities. Women are more likely to have a third level qualification, with 51% of women aged 25-34 having a third level qualification compared with 38. 7% of men in this age group. Central Statistics Office 2010) Education has the potential to play a key role in gender formation and change. Schools and higher education institutions should be required to have equality policies that are regularly monitored and publicly appraised. (Gender and Education 2009). Although it must be noted that on the whole across Irish schools and universities there is much greater awareness of gender inequality as an educational issue than there has been in the past. Gender relations and employment The changes in participation in the labour market, especially amongst arried women, has been one of the major social changes to take place in Ireland in the last three decades. (Perry, 2010:9-8) It is great to see the integration of more women to the workforce. In 2009 the education and health sectors e mployed the highest proportion of women. In the health sector, 80% of employees are women. In primary education, 84% are women while at second level this figure is 62%. (Central Statistics Office 2010) While gender equality in the workplace is guaranteed by law, inequalities exist between the genders in areas such as pay and access to professional achievement.Unfortunately women are not well represented at senior level positions, only 33% of medical and dental consultants are women, while 52% of primary school managers and 39% of second-level school managers are women. Women’s income in 2007 was around two thirds of men’s income. After adjusting for the longer hours worked by men, women’s hourly earnings were around 87% of men’s. (Central Statistics Office 2010) In 2007 the Taoiseach launched the National Women’s Strategy.Its mission statement is to have: â€Å"An Ireland where all women enjoy equality with men and can achieve their full potential while enjoying a safe and fulfilling life†. In relation to employment it aims to increase the number of women at work, to tackle the gender pay gap and to advance women’s careers. (Department of Justice and Law Reform 2007) Gender relations and public life Unfortunately Ireland still has a male dominated political arena. It is also the case that women are under represented in decision making structures at both national and regional levels.In 2009, only 14% if TD’s in Dail Eireann were women, while they accounted for 34% of members of State Boards, 17% of members of local authorities and just 12% of members of regional authorities. (Central Statistics Office 2010) Why do women have a comparative lack of success in the public sphere? There could be a number of reasons for this, such as direct political party discrimination against female candidates, male political power and women’s lack of power in other fields that ‘produce’ politicians such as business, law and the unions.While women may not have been overly successful in Irish party politics they seem to have had more success within local and community based politics which has emerged as being an important part of the Irish political scene over the last decade. (Share, Tovey , Corcoran 2007:267) Of course it’s not all bad news on the female front. The election of Mary Robinson as president in 1990 was regarded as part of a wider liberalisation of Irish society. She wasn’t the only one as when she left office, she was replaced by another worthy female, Mary McAleese who still holds office today.President McAleese has written that: it must be a matter of concern that women’s participation rates in Irish politics remain so low. She reasons that we need the insights and experiences of women to inform our policy-formation and decision making processes. We also need to understand and seek to change the factors which discourage women from entering and re maining in politics. (Perry, 2010:9-10) In conclusion, one has looked at the sociological perspectives on gender inequality in society including functionalism, liberal feminism, radical feminism and conflict theory..One has learned what sociology has revealed about gender relations in Irish society, namely through one’s focus on education but also having a brief look at employment and public life. It has become apparent that women still have a way to go in this struggle for gender equality but things have certainly moved in the right direction since the time of Auguste Comte. Comte, being the founding father of sociology believed that women were physically and mentally inferior to men.He also believed that women should not work outside the home, own property, or hold political power. Thankfully we seem to have moved on from this way of thinking but we are far from being on a level footing; it seems we have moved on from a time when women were seen to be naturally weak, emotio nally unstable and believed to have smaller brains than men, but belief in a direct biological basis for gender difference and inequality persists. McDonald 2006:100) We need to work to eradicate this†¦ men and women are equal and should be treated accordingly.