Bias can be defined in so many different ways. However, one general definition brought out clearly by Turban, Freeman, and Waber ((2017) states that bias occurs when two or more groups of individuals act in an identical manner but are treated as if they were different. The triggers to such treatment or inclination towards a specified group of people could be perceptions that people have against the neglected group. Gender bias is defined as a one sided consideration in the job market in terms of promotions, increase in salary and other employment privileges based on the sex of the employees. It also includes unfair treatment with regards to expectations and attitudes based on the gender the person employed (Hill " Hill, 2002).
The origin of Gender bias
Historically, various social structures had diverse laws and provisions on the status of women in the society in the ancient times. In ancient Egypt, despite the fact that they were answerable to their fathers and husbands, they had property rights and could file cases in court. On the other hand, in ancient Rome and China, women did not have any rights. In fact, in Rome they could not bear any political office while in China, they were to obey the male figures in their lives. This was demonstrated in that while they were children, they obeyed their fathers, while they became wives, they were to obey their husbands without questioning and in cases of being widowed, they were obliged to obey their sons (Chrisler " McCreary, 2010).
Claims are that sexism (which can be defined as prejudice typically on women) got its roots in the 16th century where females actively participated in witchcraft, thus making life a misery in the society especially in Europe. This attracted not only punishment on them but also they were considered enemies of humanities and creatures that deserved no mercy. As a result, most women in 19th and 20th centuries have been targeted for the accusations of witchcraft. Cases of witchcraft being punished by death have been reported globally. Practicing witchcraft has been a taboo in most parts of the world to the extent that in some countries such as Saudi Arabia and most of the African countries, witchcraft is punished by death. Case scenarios in Tanzania where more than 500 women were murdered because they were being accused of being witches (Turban, Freeman, " Waber, 2017).
Accusations based on witchcraft has put most women in the limelight of accusations beyond witchcraft making them vulnerable to discrimination. With the extreme and rapid technological changes and key humanitarian organizations globally taking action from the mid-19th century, women rights have been fought for so as to ensure that women are not discriminated. The past societal set up led to stereotypic perceptions which have defined gender bias in relation to one gender being more superior to the other. As a result, reports of related to sexual violence have been documented with subjects on rape and sexual harassment (Lawless " Hayes, 2016).
Gender bias in relation to law
All the societal frameworks in the world have laws or rules that guide them in line of operation. In the ancient times, laws were used to ensure there is peaceful coexistence in the society. Whenever there was conflicts or crime, the law would be used by the judges. The use of the law is inevitable up to the present day (Wood, 1994).
Most of the law in modern day society has been formed with reference to the one which existed. One key area that has been the root of discrimination for women is marriage. In ancient society, it was regarded that once the man has payed dowry, they owned the woman whom they had married and thus they could do anything to them in the marriage. The law had no provisions for the defense of the married women should they be abused in marriage. Furthermore, lots of polygamous frameworks existed where the women did not have a right to choose whom to marry. In the most of the African Culture, women would married off at an early age. Such practices spelt doom for the girl child. Other practices in relation to the law was the Female Genital Mutilation. This was a dangerous act through it had been embraced by most of the African societal laws. Most girls would lose their lives during the rituals and it would be considered as a tribute of a sacrifice to the gods, depending on the culture in question (Wood, 1994).
Amendments to most of the laws across the world in relation to gender equality took root in the late 19th century. This was due to active rise of humanitarian, non-governmental organizations sought to see to it that human rights are defended. Most active organizations such as the United Nations organizations’ agency which is the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) endeavored to undertake vocational training in the refugee camps they visited. These trainings created awareness on human rights and as a result, more provisions that defended the girl child were made in most of the constitutions of various countries in the world. This is well documented in the agenda 24 of the convention of the United Nations during the Earth’s summit in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro which pave way for the World Summit on Sustainable development later in 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa which emphasized on sustainable development goals which had provisions for gender equality. The objective of liberating most African nations from illiteracy led to abolishment of some unwanted traditions such as polygamy (United Nattions, 2002).
Most governmental bodies across the world have been working tirelessly to ensure that gender equality is addressed. This has been through have women represented in most of the employment opportunities. Other amendments have ensured that other practices such as Female Genital Mutilation, sexual harassment such as rape are considered as crime and they are punishable (United Nattions, 2002). .
Gender bias in relation to Media
The Media ranges from Televisions Shows, Newspapers and Journals, books, radio, social media platforms such as Facebook, twitter, Instagram and Mails, websites, music videos, and novels. Media is considered to be the next in rule after the government in any nation. It is a powerful tool because it is the spring of most of the information globally. This means that it covers all aspects of life in the society. Ways in which the media has fully participated in gender bias include the perpetuation of stereotypic, unrealistic and demeaning perceptions. Men are portrayed as the most significant figures in the society thus making women seem to be insignificant in the society. Furthermore, reports of relationships between men and women from the media normalizing discriminating behavior towards women. As a result, the views are influenced and end up believing that the only significant creatures in the society are men (Wood, 1994). .
The media has also endeavored to portray women as sexual objects. This is through the coverage of television programs with themes that undermine their modesty. The media would concentrate on scenarios that depict how indecent women are. Other programmers, portray how women are dependent on men for identity. Such programs tend to be unrealistic and yet the society draws lessons from the programs. In the field of sports, the media portrayed sports as a responsibility for men which entails high energy level and extreme muscle work outs. This encouraged men to be aggressive and as a result, they acquired such perceptions even in normal social interactions making them to look like inhuman before their female counterparts. Such perception altered also with the women participation in Olympic championships for a long time in history until recently in the late 19th century (Turban, Freeman, " Waber, 2017).
Underrepresentation of women by the media has made it difficult for women to politically competitive to their male counterparts in the political arena (Lawless " Hayes, 2016). Just taking a case scenario of the presidential elections in the United States of America between, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. It took her lots of courage for her to stand up against Donald Trump, and yet she was underrepresented by the media. Donald Trump portrayed Hillary Clinton as incompetent, and this had lots of impact on the outcome of elections. This was just a representation of how the media has fed the society with stereotypic and prejudiced ideas on women. Women representation in the job market is also low. The question is, is it that women are not willing to utilize these opportunities or the media is to blame? (Carlin " Winfrey, 2009)
However, with humanitarian activists and the push for women rights campaign, the girl child has been empowered so much in the 21st
century. This has been highly enabled by the media, which has endeavored to report malicious cases of sexual violation. This reports have shed a lot of light the society making the traditions that discriminated women to be abandoned. However, the empowerment of girl child has come at the expense of boy child. The boy child has been neglected and he has been dying in a gradual manner. While the media focuses to showcase how men are barbaric to women, it fails to conceal the cases where boy child is being mishandled by women. It is rare to have the media report on a male having been raped by women and yet this cases exist (Chrisler " McCreary, 2010)
Gender bias in relation to Social interactions
The ancient history on societal frameworks as observed in the beginning of the document had undermined women. Men were very superior and they were to be feared and obeyed by women. Some cultures could not allow a women give opinions or talk where men are. It was a taboo for a woman to be identified to be promiscuous in ancient cultural setting. Such crimes would be punished by death. On the other side, men would be polygamous and no one would punish them for promiscuity.
Stereotypes that discriminate women are dominant in the society. People from one generation to another have believed that men are socially valued more that women. The society has painted a picture that the male gender presents more competent individual than the female gender. The society set up in most defined cultures globally remain to have not given women a chance to express themselves and be free willed people. This is very evident from resource allocation with regards to property rights and role distribution most societies.
However, in the 21st century, women have been their own doom. They have used social media to sell their bodies by having photos of them indecently dressed. Yes the media was not blame initially, but in this century and time, most women have presented themselves in ways that are not morally upright (Chrisler " McCreary, 2010).
Conclusion
Does gender bias mean women discrimination? Most documentation that have been done have related gender bias to be a prejudice of women and girls. This remains a big debate since some individuals state that such a perception remains a fallacy since in real sense, gender bias is supposed to be perceived as any discrimination on a person because they are male or female. (Chrisler " McCreary, 2010) Argues that while most people think that stereotypic perception with regards to gender bias would affect the girl child more than the boy child in the long run, it turns out to be the other way round. While girl child can easily cry for help and be heard, the boy child may not only be heard but may not even cry for help when in trouble.
References
Carlin, D. B., " Winfrey, K. (2009). Have You come a long way baby? Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, and Sexism in 2008 Campiagn Coverage (Vol. 60). New York: Routeldge Taylor " Francis Group.
Chrisler, J. C., " McCreary, D. (Eds.). (2010). Handbook of Gender Research in Psychology: Volume 2: Gender Research in social and applied psychology. New YOrk: Springer.
Hill, G. N., " Hill, K. (2002). The People's Law Dictionary: Taking the Mystery Out of Legal Language. New York: MJF Books.
Lawless, J., " Hayes, D. (2016). Women on the Run: Gender, Media, and Political Campaigns in a Polarized Era. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Turban, S., Freeman, L., " Waber, B. (2017). A Study Used Sensors to Show That Men and Women Are Treated Differently at Work. Havard Business Review, 1-12.
United Nattions. (2002). Report of the Worl Summit on Sustainable Developemtn.
New York: United Nations.
Wood, J. T. (1994). Gendered Media: The Influence of Media on the Views of Gender.
New York: Wadsworth Publishing.
