Inequality in the Workplace, Still- Harriet Martineau

inconsistency in the Workplace, Still. HARRIET MARTINEAU Harriet Martineau, the founding mformer(a) of sociology, was a very accomplished female. She was, among other things, a womens liberationist, Unitarian, critic, affectionate scientist, and an atheist. She began many methodological, theoretical and substantive studies that would now be considered the study of sociology. She analyzed wowork forces rights, disability, education slavery, history, health and religion within her demeanortime. Long before Marx, Weber, or Durkheim, Martineau similarly studied and wrote virtually social class, suicide, forms of religions, domestic relations, delinquency, and the status of women (Gordon). Her neglect by sociologists in later old age is a perfect example of how academic sociology has excluded women sociologists from its study. Martineau stated that, an American womans life is exist to that of a slaves, (in that) they were both given indulgence rather than justice. (Berleant) Harr iet saw that women were denied education and had only one option and duty in the get together States marriage.Her attitude towards the injustice of women would most suit the feminist theory which focuses on analyzing sexual practice difference and promotes womens rights, interests and issues. A recent incident, showing the in peerity women still face today, occurred when a female was denied equal treatment at the workplace causing a sex favoritism lawsuit. Monday March 15th, 2010, a federal approximate announced a $2. 5 million discrimination verdict in favor of Michelle Maher, who was forced come out of the closet of the Fresno burning departments training academy.Maher, a single mother, former professional mixed-martial arts fighter and certified EMT with 13 certificates in firefighting skills, was clearly qualified for the transmission line at hand but apparently the fire training academy supervisors continuously focused on asking her personal questions and setting he r up to fail certain tasks while unfairly grading her exam. Maher sued the Fire discussion section in 2008 due to the discrimination she faced. Maher says, A supervisor repeatedly asked about my divorce and suggested that I was not giving my full effort in the academy because I was a single mother (Ellis).She was also told that because she scored below an 80% on a midterm, she would have to resign or be fired from the academy, therefore she resigned. After the three-week trial last fall, jurors said they believed Maher was not given adequate time to prove herself at the academy. They felt the evaluations were scratchy since the men in the academy were given extra chances to improve in weak areas and nobody from the Fire segment could pinpoint the department standards (Ellis). It is probably that Maher will win her lawsuit and the city of Fresno will have to endure $2. 6 million plus another million for attorney fees. The judge concluded that the evidence was very substantial i n Mahers favor. Martineau suggested change womens position in the workforce including education, nondiscriminatory employment and training programs. She also promoted womens admission into medical school and the importance of physical physical fitness and exercise for girls and women (Soc, 10) In this case, Martineau was right on queue with the goals Maher set in working with the Fire Department.Maher was qualified physically and academically but alas faced discrimination. The feminist theory concerning gender inequality and sexuality sees gender stratification as benefiting men and the capitalist system. Sexuality is linked to gender inequality and that male dominance is especially harmful because it results in men controlling womens sexual behavior (Soc, 172). If Maher had applied to another profession, trance for her sex, her personal business and lower test grade wouldnt be an issue.For her to apply for a mans job, was bold and daring and unneeded actions to prove she was inadequate was a poor risk the Fire Department chose to play. All feminists agree that men and women should be valued equally, women should have more(prenominal) control over their lives and gender inequality can be remedied by changing political, economic, family and other institutions as well as everyday interactions, attitudes and behaviors (Soc, 172) assortment needs to occur and gender equality is possible through equal civil rights and opportunities.Women have been internalized to achieve the womanly roles based on gendered socialization. pedagogics young girls how to be passive and maternal while promoting boys to take on the dominant roles and taught to strive to achieve educational and career success is how the gender inequality begins. Martineau was raised in a Unitarian community which counsel on rationalism, individualism and democracy. Amazingly Martineau, along with her seven brothers and sisters, received equal education until college when it came time for a highe r education for the boys only.Being the feminist that she was, she wrote an anonymous article, On Female Education for a Unitarian ledger expressing Womens intellectual inferiority to men is based on womens lack of amiable training, others expectations of women, and womens circumstances rather than womens ability (Berleant). Later her brother found out she wrote the article and said, Now, dear, leave it to the other women to make skirts and darn stockings, and you devote yourself to this (Webster. du). And indeed, Martineau was articled to become is monumental figure in sociology and to feminist history. Mahers skills exceeded the qualifications for the Fire Department but the one opportunity she wasnt given was the whirligig for her demise. In the end, Id say she won, since she made her voice hear and was awarded some major bank from her lawsuit Work Cited Benokraitis, Nijole V. Soc + Review cards + Bind-in Printed Access Card. Wadsworth Pub Co, 2009. PrintBerleant, Riva. Harri et Martineau Biography and Bibliography. Brycchan Carey Home Page. 2004 Web. 18 Mar. 2010. . Gordon, Marshall. Martineau, Harriet. A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Encyclopedia. com. 18 Mar. 2010. Harriet Martineau. Webster University. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. . Ellis, John. Ruling Backs Womans Suit against Fresno Fire Dept. covering fire Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley in Central California Fresno Bee. 15 Mar. 2010. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. .