Gender Inequality in the Workplace: A Sociological Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm.2024.v09.n01.042Keywords:
Gender Inequality, Wage Gap, Glass Ceiling, Workplace Discrimination, Intersectionality, Social StratificationAbstract
Gender inequality in the workplace remains a persistent social issue despite decades of legal reforms and policy interventions. This study examines the structural, cultural, and institutional factors that contribute to disparities in wages, leadership representation, and career advancement opportunities. Drawing on feminist theory, social stratification frameworks, and intersectionality perspectives, the research analyzes how organizational practices, gender norms, and unequal distribution of unpaid care work reinforce systemic inequality. The study highlights the continued existence of the gender wage gap, occupational segregation, and the “glass ceiling” that limits women’s access to decision-making roles. It further explores how intersecting identities such as race and class intensify workplace discrimination. The findings suggest that achieving gender equality requires comprehensive policy reforms, transparent pay systems, organizational accountability, and cultural transformation. Addressing these structural barriers is essential for promoting fairness, economic productivity, and sustainable social development.
References
Kieling, C., Baker-Henningham, H., Belfer, M., Conti, G., Ertem, I., Omigbodun, O., Rohde, L. A., Srinath, S., Ulkuer, N., & Rahman, A. (2011). Child and adolescent mental health worldwide: Evidence for action. The Lancet, 378(9801), 1515–1525. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60827-1
Lin, L. Y., Sidani, J. E., Shensa, A., Radovic, A., Miller, E., Colditz, J. B., Hoffman, B. L., Giles, L. M., & Primack, B. A. (2016). ASSOCIATION between SOCIAL MEDIA USE and DEPRESSION among U.S. YOUNG ADULTS. Depression and Anxiety, 33(4), 323–331. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22466
McCashin, D., & Murphy, C. M. (2023). Using TikTok for public and youth mental health – A systematic review and content analysis. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 28(1), 279–306. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045221106608
O’Reilly, M. (2020). Social media and adolescent mental health: the good, the bad and the ugly. Journal of Mental Health, 29(2), 200–206. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2020.1714007
Piteo, E. M., & Ward, K. (2020). Review: Social networking sites and associations with depressive and anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents – a systematic review. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 25(4), 201–216. https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12373
Plackett, R., Sheringham, J., &Dykxhoorn, J. (2023). The Longitudinal Impact of Social Media Use on UK Adolescents’ Mental Health: Longitudinal Observational Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25. https://doi.org/10.2196/43213
Popat, A., & Tarrant, C. (2023). Exploring adolescents’ perspectives on social media and mental health and well-being – A qualitative literature review. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 28(1), 323–337. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045221092884
Primack, B. A., Perryman, K. L., Crofford, R. A., & Escobar-Viera, C. G. (2022). Social Media as It Interfaces with Psychosocial Development and Mental Illness in Transitional-Age Youth. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 31(1), 11–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2021.07.007
Ryding, F. C., & Kuss, D. J. (2020). The use of social networking sites, body image dissatisfaction, and body dysmorphic disorder: A systematic review of psychological research. Psychology of Popular Media, 9(4), 412–435. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000264
Schønning, V., Hjetland, G. J., Aarø, L. E., & Skogen, J. C. (2020). Social Media Use and Mental Health and Well-Being Among Adolescents – A Scoping Review. Frontiers in Psychology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01949
Sedgwick, R., Epstein, S., Dutta, R., &Ougrin, D. (2019). Social media, internet use and suicide attempts in adolescents. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 32(6), 534–541. https://doi.org/10.1097/YCO.0000000000000547
Sharma, A., & Vidal, C. (2023). A scoping literature review of the associations between highly visual social media use and eating disorders and disordered eating: a changing landscape. Journal of Eating Disorders, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00898-6
Tibber, M. S., & Silver, E. (2022). A trans-diagnostic cognitive behaviouralconceptualisation of the positive and negative roles of social media use in adolescents’ mental health and wellbeing. Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 15. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1754470X22000034
Ulvi, O., Karamehic-Muratovic, A., Baghbanzadeh, M., Bashir, A., Smith, J., & Haque, U. (2022). Social Media Use and Mental Health: A Global Analysis. Epidemiologia, 3(1), 11–25. https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia3010002
Vidal, C., Lhaksampa, T., Miller, L., & Platt, R. (2020). Social media use and depression in adolescents: a scoping review. International Review of Psychiatry, 32(3), 235–253. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2020.1720623
Xavier, M., Baptista, H., Mendes, J. M., Magalhães, P., & Caldas-de-Almeida, J. M. (2013). Implementing the World Mental Health Survey Initiative in Portugal - rationale, design and fieldwork procedures. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-4458-7-19
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).
