Gender inequality indicators measure quantifiable aspects of biases against women or men in general. However different studies have revealed that it is women who suffer the most from gender discrimination (Adejugbe and Adejugbe 1). There are several indications showing women’s continued struggle with inequality. Firstly, low pay for women workers in an occupation that requires a similar skill set as those of their male counterparts is an indicator of inequality in workplaces (Adejugbe and Adejugbe 7). For instance, it is more demeaning for a man employed in low-skilled production occupations to receive higher earnings than his wife who works in domestic service. Secondly, in many institutions, few women are in positions of influence and this leaves them out of decision-making in corporate organizations (Adejugbe and Adejugbe 10). The two examples are a replica of the inequalities that women are subjected to in all spheres of life.
Even with great achievements that have been made towards eradicating gender discrimination, women’s rights remain a sensitive issue across all world nations. The following specific examples show women’s inequality and how the disparity is manifested. Limited access to education is a good illustration of how some specific groups in some nations are opposed to educating a girl child. With no chance of learning, some women view motherhood as the only chance of survival (Collins 59). Secondly, discriminatory divorce rights place the burden of parenting on women. Divorced women face the challenge of coping with the incessant demands of their children (Collins 63). Unequal legal rights are also a particular example of how women can be susceptible to violence such as sexual harassment. A former domestic worker in the US recalls that her male master tried to forcefully kiss her and when her husband confronted the man, the master ends up slapping the husband and having him arrested (Collins 54). Undeniably, female rights are compromised because they lack substantive knowledge of their fundamental human rights.
Since women are constantly confronted with denial of their rights, there is a positive change in the general perspective of gender equality. The tragedy is that despite the recorded transformations toward establishing gender fairness, there are a lot of contradictions that can be witnessed. Foremost, regardless of the political scene experiencing an increased number of female leaders such as the UK’s Thatcher, Libya’s Johnson, Philippines’ Aroyo, and others, many women continue to oppose other women when it comes to leadership quests. Another intriguing contradiction is that women do not pursue gender equality as a collective responsibility yet they speak of wanting to achieve equality as a unified entity. To illustrate, seven women join Victoria’s Secret, a bra and lingerie company as a marketing team, yet the company has only a single position for a female board member (Maheshwari and Friedman, 2). Therefore, for women to realize their struggles toward gender equity, they must support one another.
The TV series Vampire Diaries is indeed a feminist show. In essence, the discussion of how the series elevates women to the same level as men is pegged on the behavior of the female lead character, Elena Gilbert. As a woman, she oscillates between her strengths and weaknesses yet is willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of her loved ones. The playwright was deconstructing the characteristic of strong will that is always associated with masculinity (Pyke and Johnson, 35). Again, the choice of a nineteen-year-old female who to some extent may appear broken and weak as a result of her parent’s death shows that the playwright wanted to show that masculinity was overrated (Pyke and Johnson, 35). The TV series also explores the struggles that Elena had to undergo, through falling in love with vampire Stefan and later on, Damon, who is Stefan’s brother. The kind of love triangle explained in the series through Elena, Stefan, and Damon depicts Elena’s weaknesses as well. Most assuredly, the TV series propagates feminism in a clearer manner that makes Elena an endeared female character, who can wade through the challenges to reach her destiny.
A series such as Vampire Diaries is a play that has a lot of gendered messages that have great effects on both men and women. Through the TV series, men learn that women too can create a following that can instigate rebellion against an establishment such as a government. Lillian Salvatore, the mother of Damon and Stefan, rejects her biological sons and goes on to create a family on her own. Along with other non-conformists, they form a large army and take over Mystic Falls. In brief, the playwright is depicting women as revolutionary, a character that is too often associated with men. Furthermore, the movie imparts to men the knowledge that women are traditionally dependent on men despite the weaknesses that the latter may exhibit. At first, Elena starts as an independent character but later on, she is consumed by her lust and love for Damon. Moreover, erotic love between men and women is shown to thrive irrespective of either gender’s character. Vampire Diaries is a TV show that refines the perspectives of both genders towards each other.
Works Cited
Adejugbe, Adeyinka, and Adedolapo Adejugbe. “Women and Disparity in the Place of Work: A Nigerian Slant.” SSRN African Law E-Journal, 2018, pp.1-31. Web.
Collins, Patricia. “Work, Family, and Black Women’s Oppression.” Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of Empowerment, Routledge, 2009, pp.51-75.
Maheshwari, Sapna, and Vanessa Friedman. “Victoria’s Secret Swaps Angels for ‘What Women Want.’ Will They Buy It?” The New York Times, 2021, pp. 1-7.
Pyke, Karen, and Denise Johnson. “Asian American Women and Racialized Femininities: “Doing” Gender across Cultural Worlds.” Gender & Society, vol. 17, no.1, 2003, pp. 33-53. Sage journals.
Historical And Modern-Day Slavery
Introduction
The concept of slavery is seemingly disappearing in terms of media coverage and overall discussions due to the inexistence of the problem. Yet, research shows slavery to be a major concern worldwide. Slavery is often associated with its historical context, which makes individuals think of it as an aspect of the past that was abolished a long time ago. While it has lost its legitimacy and social acceptance in most countries, vulnerable populations are still at risk of losing their freedom and either being subjected to working in unbearable conditions for little remuneration or being trafficked. In this paper, the concept of modern-day and historical slavery will be compared and contrasted, exemplifying the similarities between the notions and the lack of major change in the phenomenon.
Concept of Slavery
Historic slavery is associated with the enslaved person’s inability to quit servicing the enslaver, poor work conditions, violations, abuse, and forced labor for little to no remuneration. The notion is relatively similar to that of modern-day slavery as the same principles apply. According to researchers, slavery nowadays is linked to a lack of basic citizenship rights, non-consensual labor, and abuse (Bindman 65). The definitions have similarities on multiple levels, including the treatment of the individuals who are enslaved, the premises that the enslaver uses to justify the practice, and the aim to use a person’s potential for personal or corporate gain. The aspect of capitalism is relatively nuanced and exemplifies a difference between traditional slavery and modern one. Nowadays, slaves may work within the supply chain for the benefit of a corporation rather than a single master or owner.
Legitimacy
The legitimacy factor is one notion that differentiates traditional slavery from modern-day one. Researchers point out that while slavery was abolished, there are still 40 million people who experience the abuse associated with the phenomenon, a number higher than at any point in history (Clarke 357). It is clear that the world population itself has multiplied, and the more people, the more vulnerable demographics that can be unlawfully subjected to slavery. Thus, while the concept was entirely legitimate and, sometimes, at the basis of many societies worldwide, it is forbidden in the modern-day world, a tactic that does not lead to major changes in terms of minimizing the adverse effects.
Social Aspect
The social aspect of slavery, alongside the economic and political one, exemplifies a hierarchical ladder in which vulnerable individuals can be subjected to forced labor. The characteristic is present in both modern-day practices and traditional ones, yet the long-term effect of historic slavery is the only one that can be currently assessed. An example is the US history, and the effect slavery had on racial relationships (Grim et al. 54). Both topics are related to inequality and the vulnerability of specific demographics, a phenomenon that did not change. Previously, slaves were either vulnerable because of poverty, skin color, or social status, and today, the impoverished individuals remain the most oppressed and subjected to unlawful labor practices.
Conclusion
Both historical and modern-day slavery is based on the same premises, including the presence of a person taking away people’s rights, forced labor, abuse, and a disregard for fundamental human rights. While today’s capitalism has led to an increase in such practices due to the need for cheap labor, it is inevitable that traditional and slavery nowadays are similar. Thus, history has shaped the concept yet has not changed or diminished it enough to make a difference.
Works Cited
Bindman, Jo. “An International Perspective on Slavery in the Sex Industry.” Global Sex Workers, 2018, pp. 65–68., Web.
Clarke, Matthew C. “Addressing Modern Slavery.” Journal of Human Trafficking, vol. 7, no. 3, 2019, pp. 357–360., Web.
Grim, Linnea, et al. “Taking the Next Step: Confronting the Legacies of Slavery at Historic Sites.” Journal of Museum Education, vol. 42, no. 1, 2017, pp. 54–68., Web.
The Significance Of Primary Care Delivery
In general, all objectives of the improvement of the access to health care provided at Healthy People 2030 are highly essential as they contribute to the well-being of every person in the United States. However, from a personal perspective, the objective called “Increase the proportion of people with a usual primary care provider — AHS‑07” is the most beneficial for patients with chronic diseases (Healthy People 2030, n.d.). According to it, primary care providers (PCP) play a crucial role in the maintenance of health and the prevention of serious disease and complications.
The significance of primary care delivery is impossible to overestimate. According to Savoy et al. (2017), it “includes health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance, counseling, patient education, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses in a variety of health care settings” (p. 86). Patients with chronic diseases use medical services more frequently in comparison with others and require permanent access to health care. For them, it is essential to have a primary care provider on a regular basis who will monitor their condition and coordinate care with other specialists if necessary.
In addition, a primary care physician may prevent the re-occurrence of more severe complications and avoid additional costs related to treatment. All in all, primary care is associated with quality health care delivery, lower hospitalizations, and “lower rates of healthcare disparities” (Savoy et al., 2017, p. 86). As a result, people with chronic illnesses receive an opportunity to improve their health outcomes by having regular primary care providers. In addition, if patients have their primary care providers for a long time, they create a bond on the basis of mutual trust and respect that contributes to care as well.
References
Healthy People 2030. (n.d.). Increase the proportion of people with a usual primary care provider — AHS‑07. Web.
Savoy, M., Hazlett-O’Brien, C., & Rapacciuolo, J. (2017). The role of primary care physicians in managing chronic disease. Delaware Journal of Public Health, 3(1), 86-93. Web.