GENDER DIVISIONS IN U.K.

This research examines relevant data to assess the extent of the continue presence of gender divisions in the United Kingdom (UK). This examination considers gender within the context stated by the British Council for the study of gender-related issues. In relation to the term "gender", the British Council (2002 1) stated that:

Gender is a social construction; it concerns the differing qualities culturally attributed to women and men à. The study of gender is, like the study of class or of race, also the study of inequality; we are interested in not only why women do not occupy positions of power, status or responsibility in the same numbers as men, but also the process by which this occurs. Whether we believe that inequality of the sexes is the result of genetic differences, the desire of men to control and dominate women, outdated attitudes and prejudices or historical struggle, it is undoubtedly the case that there is a continuous process of producing and reproducing inequality.

Statistical Evidence of Gender-Based Divisions in British Society in the Early 21st Century

The Equal Opportunity commission (EOC) published the results of an exhaustive survey of gender divisions in Great Britain in 2002. The data in the published report reflect the status of gender-related differences as of 2001 (Equal Opportunity Commission 1-14). The data cover (1) education and training (2) employment, (3) equal pay, (4) publ

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ation to standard grades. The performance advantage for young women was narrow in mathematics and science, but was substantial in other disciplines, including computer studies. In relation to higher grades, the performance advantage for young women over young men persisted with the single exception of French language studies. Further, the performance advantage for young women was narrower in relation to higher grades than in relation to standard grades (Equal Opportunity Commission 4). In relation to apprenticeships, however, substantial gender divisions emerged. Male concentrations exceeding 90 percent existed in construction, engineering, and the motor industry, while female concentrations near to or exceeding 90 percent existed in health/social care, hairdressing, and child care. Women also were overrepresented in retailing, customer service, and business administration. Gender representation was approximately equal in hotels/catering (Equal Opportunity Commission 5). In spite of the intellectual capacity demonstrated by young women in GSCE/SCE examinations, wide gender divisions exist in gender distributions in higher education. Men account for approximately 85 percent of engineering students, 80 percent of students i
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Opportunity Commission, British Council, Scotland Wales, National Statistics, Curriculum Assessments, GCSE SCE, Booth Franscesconi, Pay Considered, Equal Opportunity, Work/Life Balance, opportunity commission, equal opportunity, equal opportunity commission, part-time employment, gender divisions, rate women, employment rate, employment rate women, part-time employment rate, british council, party affiliation, retrieved internet, percent part-time, 2 january 2003, internet 2 january,
Approximate Word count = 1400
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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