Gender discrimination can be defined as the situation in which someone is subjected to prejudice, intimidations and of a less being due to the sexuality of the person. This has been mostly dominated by when being discriminated by the men. It has been evident in most communities and even it is part and parcel of the other communities as this is embedded in their culture. There have been a lot of efforts across the world to address this injustice. Myriad activities and awareness have been created yet the vice still happens (Coffman, Exley, " Niederle, 2017). Moreover, there are many ethical theories that have been invented to answer the issue of gender discrimination. This paper have sought to unravel how school of thought that adopts three theories to solve the issue. These theories includes virtue ethic, Deontology and Utilitarianism. Considering the core principles these theories forms the foundation in which gender discrimination can be engaged.
Analysis of how the Schools of Thought Explain Gender Discrimination
Virtue ethics approaches the issue of gender discrimination in the perspective of how an individual character can determine the way the person ethically think. There are three ways in which virtue ethics approaches the issue (Hollins, 2015). First and foremost is the Eudaimonism. Virtue ethics identifies happiness as the key goal that every human being always crave to have. Gender discrimination is a vice that has taken root in some societies. For this to be eliminated we need to analyze if the people who subjected others into this menace are happy about it. Virtue ethics focuses on the character traits of the person. Virtue ethic s can be applied to answer the question of gender discrimination, in the sense that, it is the character trait of an individual that account for the action the same person takes. Moral behavior is the product of ethical character of a person. Therefore, it is the bad or evil character that is foundation of gender inequality. For gender discrimination to be eradicated, from virtue ethics theory, it is the character trait of a person that needs to be investigated. Hence it can be possible to develop ways in which the person can be transformed to end the product of gender equality at the end.
It is important to note that the virtue ethics do not enhance an individual morality. Sometimes virtue might seem to praise virtues that in the reality are immoral. In addition, Virtue Theory does not incorporate the other key concepts that encompasses; rights, obligation and duty. The theory does not give the deep analysis on what are the building blocks of the moral behavior and what are vices that yields the immoral behavior (Hollins, 2015). Other people might take this theory as the answer to addressing the issue of gender discrimination but it does not give solution to significant issues and therefore not the proper solution.
Nevertheless, virtue ethics can be used to give the solution to gender discrimination problem. When the society view ethic morals as an important and rewarding factor in determining an individual wealth rather that the material things , then gender equality can be nurtured. It is obvious in some situations such as economical, social and political perspective to witness a particular gender especially females being neglected and no one feels to have done the wrong thing. In other hand this forms the genesis in which rampant and increased gender discrimination is cultivated. Probably it is possible to see gender stereotyping and gender inequality (Arjoon, Turriago-Hoyos, " Braun, 2017).
Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that is concerned with the outcome of rightness or wrongness of an issue for this case gender discrimination. According to this theory it is the effect or results that are brought about by gender discrimination that should be assessed and analyzed to get the solutions in which the issue can be addressed. Usually it is evident to determine the outcomes of this menace. Women for instance knows well that when gender discrimination is part and parcel of society, evils such as rape cases, forced labor and sidelining of women on community employment posts are eminent. Utilitarianism advocates that a person would out to do something to obtain the best results possible. With this regard, the theory has the notion that irrespective of whether the act are positive or negative the consequences is the primary focus on why an individual perform such actions (Hollins, 2015).
Notably, utilitarianism can be applied to shun out gender discrimination spearheaded with the evils that arise due to the vice. The theory holds that that understanding the consequences associated with gender discrimination can be an integral aspect that can make an individual or the society refrain from participating in ways that accrues to gender discrimination. The theory determines the usefulness of the actions that leads to outcome (Coffman, Exley, " Niederle, 2017). Therefore, as compared with the virtue ethics it accounts for all actions that eventually lead to the final product. This means that the theory gives elements that give growth to the gender equality and inequality. The theory identifies the consequences of the vice and solutions can be used universally.
Some of the key challenges with this theory is that the consequences on do not justify the means. Good results do not guarantee that the ways of obtaining the results are also good. Rather if the means of getting the results implies using immoral mechanisms then that should be considered unethical. Besides, the theory uses tyranny of numbers where if many people feels that the issue is right then it is perceived to be ethical (Coffman, Exley, " Niederle, 2017).
Deontology theory is an ethical theory that focuses on the finding rules that differentiate the right from the wrong. This theory is practically applied as it necessitates the need for people to follow certain rules while performing their duties. It is the study that enables one to act in manner that shows the moral. The theory has been embraced to analyze and determine ethics that always direct people for ethical considerations. Deontology theory was pioneered by the philosopher Immanuel Kant who argued that an individual moral was bound with the duty. Gender discrimination has been clearly depicted in areas where people meet to perform various duties and activities (Arjoon, Turriago-Hoyos, " Braun, 2017). For instance, it is therefore a possible that people can focus on the nature of work they do in bid to understand the influence or impact of gender discrimination. As such, most of the people based their partiality on what a person does which according to them is determined by the nature of work they do. From time memorial certain tasks in the society were preserved or meant for either women or men specifically and this bred the gender roles and finally fender discrimination (Zamir " Medina, 2017).
Considering gender discrimination, I decided to focus on this topic or problem because it’s one of the key challenges that have negatively impacted on women in this century. Gender parity and discrimination bear weight that makes one group of people inferior and unable to focus on personal growth and development in social, cognitive, political and economic spheres (Coffman, Exley, " Niederle, 2017). In this regard, the way of life of different genders is a problem especially when specific roles cannot or meant to be limited to a particular sex. Leadership and managerial positions were not meant for women and they were sidelined in that matter which was an injustice since they also have the responsibility to play in the society. Also, I focused on this topic because gender discrimination is a civil right violation which can take different forms if not dealt with. These forms could be sexual harassment, unequal pay and pregnancy discrimination which are tormenting to the victims. Since it’s considered as unlawful gender and sex discrimination that drives the society in the wrong direction its worth discussing. In addition to that, the analysis of this topic helps in reducing the cases of victimization and racial discrimination as well which is closely connected to gender discrimination. Therefore, the society has to be sensitized on the significance of dealing or fighting this vice in the community (Arjoon, Turriago-Hoyos, " Braun, 2017).
References
Arjoon, S., Turriago-Hoyos, Á., " Braun, B. M. (2017). Happiness: A Philosophical and Historical Perspective. Handbook of Virtue Ethics in Business and Management, 827- 834.
Coffman, K. B., Exley, C. L., " Niederle, M. (2017). When Gender Discrimination Is Not About Gender.
Hollins, E. R. (2015). Culture in school learning: Revealing the deep meaning. Routledge.
Zamir, E., " Medina, B. (2017). Deontological Morality and Economic Analysis of Law.
