Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 561

Proceedings of the 2021 2nd International Conference on Mental

Health and Humanities Education (ICMHHE 2021)

The Literature Review of Gender Discriminations in

Schools, Families, and Workplaces
Yiting Lin*1
1
Department of Foreign Languages, Concord University College Fujian Normal University
*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT
This paper investigates gender discriminations in schools, families and workplaces. The main conclusion can be drawn
is that female is received discrimination to some extent, which is a serious problem. The aim of this research is to review
the recent progress of gender discriminations and remind people that the existence of gender bias will influence female’s
rights and interests, and then lead to social injustice. In the family, the conventional concept is that females are less
capable than males. Hence, males play a more important roles in the family issues that will have a disadvantageous
impact on females. To solve this issue, female need to learn to defend their equities through legal means and related
committees. In addition, the findings about gender discriminations in the workplace are mainly due to females’ special
physiological processes, such as the inconvenience brought to the company by giving birth to children. It also makes
companies more likely to choose male employees. In school, boys get more attentions and education from teachers, so
that girls receive an inequitable education at school. The purpose of this review paper is to raise people’s awareness of
the importance of correcting gender discrimination. If there is a law which can restrain gender discrimination, then the
atmosphere of gender discriminations will be weaker and weaker until it disappears. It makes a lot of sense to help
females recognize the existence of gender discriminations and learn how to solve it.

Keywords: Gender Discrimination, Families, Schools, Workplaces, Inequity

1. INTRODUCTION children, which makes women may be distracted at work,

resulting in a gap in work. Another reason is about the
Gender discrimination refers to the unequal treatment traditional views: women are requested to do the laundry,
of members of one gender against members of another the dishes and the cooking, while men drive to work. This
one. From a sociological point of view, gender discrimination against women has produced a
discrimination means that the social system does not stereotypical image of women, leading to the low status
provide equal opportunities for upward mobility of men and unimportance of women, who account for more than
and women [1]. The inequality between the sexes results 50% of population all over the world [2], [4], [5]. In this
in social gender discriminations. Gender discrimination research, the discrimination against women is particularly
is a common phenomenon in our society, which often prominent in the following three aspects:
happens at schools, families, and the workplaces. This
article will summarize the main findings of researches on 2.1 Gender Discriminations in families
gender discriminations in schools, families, and the
workplaces. This review paper aims to clarify the recent Gender discriminations in families is one of the main
progress on the gender discriminations and introduce the problems to be considered. Traditionally, females have
organizational structure of this review. less attentions from parents or grandparents, because in
agriculture, females cannot take the same duty as men to
2. GENDER DISCRIMINATION carry heavy work in many Asian countries. This society
lack of the recognition of females. From the origins of
Gender discrimination is a general phenomenon all ancestor worship in the second and third millennia BC,
over the world that is researched by many studies [1], [2], China has had a great preference for males [4]. The
[3]. From the perspective of physiological reasons, researcher further defines that during the imperial state
women need time to have children and take care of the patrilocal and patrilineal familial systems developed

Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press SARL.

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license -http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/. 538
 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 561

strengthened this eccentric because only a son can award fundamental law of the state, clearly states in its general
an identity to the new-born child and look after the old provisions that women enjoy equal rights with men in all
parents as well as offer economic support for them aspects of political, economic, cultural, social and family
[6][7][8][9]. What’s more, Prenatal sex testing and sex- life [4]. 2) Classes and lectures on equality between men
selective abortion have been widely condemned by and women should be set up in the society, with the
international observers as harmful and immoral. These purpose of making people change the dregs of traditional
practices are complete gender discriminations [10]. views. The idea of gender equality should be formed; 3)
Screening of unborn children is an inhuman outrage and The law provides a way for females to appeal, by which
an act of defiance and wanton destruction of the laws of females can use legal methods to defend their rights and
nature, which will disorder the balance of sex ratio all interests when they encounter infringement. For
over the world. examples, the institution in China called All-China
Women’s Federation can protect women from being
For families facing chronic poverty, the female’s
discriminated in some ways. Therefore, these solutions
futures may be well supported by marriage, which can
should be considered in the future from the perspectives
also decrease the economic load. According to the high
of family.
costs of raising children, education, and the low
possibility of female to become the breadwinner [2]. In
general, parents would push females out of their homes 2.2 Gender Discriminations in Workplaces
and schools, and in order to let the female get married. There are a lot of issues about gender discriminations
School-aged girl’s marriage was considered to be the in the workplace. Despite regulations that attempt to
dominant obstacle to achieving universal primary promote equality within the workplace, discrimination
education and improved gender equality for girls [11]. against certain social groups such as women still occurs,
Education-based interventions can disrupt and prevent with women faring worse than men on most measures of
early and forced marriage [2]. Generally speaking, the economic equity, including incomes, unemployment and
early marriage will cause the shortage of knowledge. This occupational distribution. Although gender
research argues that the lack of education for women will discrimination is illegal in many countries it is still
deprive women of the opportunity to receive a better evident. For example, the data from Europe illuminate
education. Being short of access to higher-level that females earn on average 20% less than men [13].
knowledge makes it difficult for a woman to stand out in More than 50% of women surveyed reported
the competitive modern workplace and realize her experiencing sexual harassment in the workplace in the
potentials (e.g., promotion). UK [14].
In this situation, we must recognize the need to Gender discriminations in the workplace has several
facilitate women’s education and empower countless aspects. We can see that the issue that women always get
women to play a positive role. The saying “If we educate more inequity in interview and workplace. Even though
a boy, we educate one person. If we educate a girl, we women make more efforts to get superior academic
educate a family and a whole nation. (a popular African achievements, while they could not gain the job or
poverb). This might be relevant to the traditional payment they deserve. Even if male and female
agricultural view that we have discussed before. It interviewees have equal academic achievements,
reflects the significance of female education, as there is interviewers generally tend to recruit males [1].
an indescribably wonderful affection between mother
and offspring. A mother’s pregnancy brings her child into Another discrimination of female is that female who
the world. This is a rock-solid bond that cannot be are married but haven’t had children are difficult to find a
replaced by anything else. Another quote from Napoleon job. It means the female worker can be forced to leave for
about education for women was: “Give me an educated extended periods of time because of pregnancy at any
mother and I will give you an educated country”. In time, which will damage the company’s profits. No one
comparison with uneducated women, educated women knows when a female will have a child. Once she has a
have better cognition and social interaction, because they kid, the corporation requires to approve her paid
are familiar with how to balance work and family. maternity leave, which may leave the boss with some
financial losses.
We need to take measures to effectively solve these
problems. Here are some solutions that are suggested by What’s worse, it’s difficult for females to get into
this research: 1) The national government promulgated leadership in a corporation. It seems to be a conventional
some laws or policies to protect women’s right to receive phenomenon. Discrimination exists when these social
education and help them safeguard their own rights and tradition and attitudes compulsive demand that female
interests. For example, nine-year compulsory education should hold a subordinate position. Based on their gender
in China is non-discriminatory. Both males and females within a society or subculture where a gender power
can have the same right and chances to get to school [12]. imbalance occurs, female may hold a ‘minority’ status.
The Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, the Though females representing approximately half of the

539
 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 561

population [1]. Based on these situations, it may be that female. On the other hand, boys are encouraged to
female’s inherent fertility makes them less competitive develop independent thinking, be active and express their
than male in the workplace. Due to factors such as ideas boldly and passionately. Girls are socialized in
physical discomfort during pregnancy, distraction, and school and are taught the importance of popularity and the
the availability of paid maternity leave. What’s more, wrong idea that performance and ability are not that
there is a work vacancy for female to offset, which may important [1]. Bailey argues that “Girls in grades six and
not be easy to repair. Although the number of females in seven rate being popular and well-liked as more important
managerial and executive positions is increasing, these than being perceived as competent or independent. Boys,
positions are still generally occupied by male [15]. As the on the other hand, are more likely to rank independence
century draws to a close, it remains a fact that men make and competence as more important.” [1]. This method of
up 95 percent of the top executives of the 1,000 largest education is unreasonable. They do not respect children’s
public companies in the United States [16]. In addition to nature and talents but imprison children’s free
discrimination, females who do not act up to the socio- development and imagination. This kind of practice will
cultural traditions of their gender can face disgrace, social undoubtedly stifle the child’s talent.
exclusion and violence. Females will go through hardship
According to statistics, almost all teachers in nurseries
of discriminations from lots of aspects, which result in
and kindergartens are females, and this female advantage
greater stress and worse mental health aftermath [1]. It is
may have some negative effects on students because, in
clear that female who earn less than male have a higher
schools with many female teachers, girls and female
rate of depression than male [17].
teachers identify with each other and get better
Here are some solutions that are advised by this personality development, while boys have psychological
research: 1) The state should enact laws and policies to anxiety due to difficulty in identifying with female
protect female’s rights and interests in the workplace. For teachers. Hence, they are prone to aggressive behavior
instance, the equal employment rights. It means that with and uncooperative attitudes with the school [19]. In this
the exception of jobs and posts that are not suitable for situation, boys tend to be more negative and don’t have
female, companies are not allowed to refuse to employ enough chance to progress themselves, which I think is a
female on the basis of gender and raise the recruitment very unfair and serious problem. In addition, school
standards for females [19]; 2) Males and females should education is influenced by many traditional ideas of
undertake the responsibilities and obligations together, gender. Many teachers always think that girls are obedient
and male should provide female more understanding and and shy, however, their brains are not flexible enough and
consideration. they will only study hard [19]. Teachers will attribute
girls’ poor grades to intellectual problems, while attitude
2.3 Gender Discriminations in Schools towards boys is that they are naughty and mischievous,
and if boys do not perform well, it leads to motivation
Even in school education, the gender discrimination problems and other non-intellectual factors [19].
still exists. Victims of gender bias are negative. They bear
so much psychological pressure that they are not willing Based on the above, here are some solutions and
to stand up and speak out for their injustice in public [1]. suggestions: 1)Provide the girl more opportunity to
Girls are in such an unfair educational environment. The receive the equal education, which can help to break the
result is that generations of female have been trained to norm of gender discriminations in school; 2) More
be the “perfect female” in traditional society or people’s compulsory ideological construction classes on gender
mind. “Over the course of years, the uneven distribution equality for in-service teachers should be set up in schools
of teacher time, energy, attention, and talent, with boys [1]; 3)The department of education should provide ways
getting the lion’s share, takes its toll on girls” [18]. for students to complain and maintain equal rights in
Teachers are often unaware that their teaching behavior education; 4)In school education, teachers should not
is biased because they are simply teaching what they are import the discriminated career notions to students that
supposed to teach, and subtle gender inequalities found females tend to work more steadily(e.g. teachers),
in teaching materials are often overlooked [1]. “Boys and whereas males should try more challenging work with
girls have different educations, although they enjoy the higher risks(e.g. business work).
same classrooms, books and the same teachers” [18].
During the period of time, girls are continuous receive an 3. CONCLUSION
unfair education.
This paper reviews the gender discriminations in
In addition, girls’ good communication is regarded as workplaces, schools, and families. To summarize, the
a bad morality [1], [19]. However, when the same main arguments of this paper are: 1) The traditional
performance exists in another gender, people’s family concept will have a negative impact on females.
evaluation is very dissimilar. The girl was complimented Measures need to be taken to change people’s traditional
for being neat, quiet and calm. It can be seen that teachers idea, or to protect female’s rights through legal methods
are trying to bring girls closer to the ideal image of and relevant committees; 2) Females are also treated

540
 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 561

differently in the workplace because of their particular [7] Ahn, Namkee. “Effects of the one-child family policy
physiological characteristics. Female have a hard time on second and third births in Hebei, Shaanxi and
reaching the leadership in the workplace due to the Shanghai.” Journal of Population Economics
stereotype, which refers that male’s innate strength is 7.1(1994): 63-78.
good leadership, while female lack team drive. Females
also lack an advantage over males in the interview [8] Graham, et al. “Son preference in Anhui Province,
process, because companies may prefer not to choose China.” International Family Planning Perspectives
female as employee for the sake of avoiding the loss of (1998).
female’s maternity leave; 3) In schools, boys are more [9] Li, Lixing, and X. Wu. “Gender of Children,
likely to get the attention of teachers while girls are Bargaining Power, and Intrahousehold Resource
continuous receive an unfair education. The schools, Allocation in China.” Journal of Human Resources
workplaces, and families are the environment where the 46.2(2011):295-316.
gender discriminations exist. There are lots of instances
happened in these three contexts. There is no limit to the [10] Goodkind, D. “Sex-Selective Abortion,
reader of this article, while it is more helpful to Reproductive Rights, and the Greater Locus of
sociological researchers and females. By reading this Gender Discrimination in Family Formation: Cairo’s
article, they can learn more about gender discriminations Unresolved Questions.” Ann Arbor Michigan
and get corresponding solutions. From the perspective of University of Michigan Population Studies Center
the family, some traditional families will change their Mar (1997).
prejudice against female; From the perspective of
[11] Myers, J. “Breaking Vows: Early and Forced
students, girls in school can change the unequal teaching
Marriage and Girls’ Education.” (2011).
phenomenon through the solutions provided in the paper.
For workers, female can protect their rights and interests [12] “Nine-Year Compulsory Education System”.
through laws and seeking help from institutions. At the Baike.So.Com, 2021,
same time, it will also inspire future researchers to do https://baike.so.com/doc/6715999-6930043.html.
more specific and in-depth research on gender
discrimination, which will play some enlightening role. [13] Humbert, Anne Laure & Ivaškaitė-Tamošiūnė,
Therefore, in the future, the researchers are encouraged Viginta & Oetke, Nicole & Paats, Merle. (2015).
to research more on eliminating gender discrimination. Gender Equality Index 2015 Measuring gender
equality in the European Union 2005-2012.
REFERENCES [14] Hosang, Georgina M., and Kamaldeep Bhui.
[1] Sumi, V. S. “Education and Gender Discrimination”. “Gender Discrimination, Victimisation And
Online Submission (2012):7. Women’s Mental Health”. The British Journal Of
Psychiatry, vol 213, no. 6, 2018, pp. 682-684. Royal
[2] Ara, Nargis, and S. K. Malik. “Gender Discrimination College Of Psychiatrists, doi:10.1192/bjp.2018.244.
in Education- A Barrier in Development of Female
Education at Higher Secondary Level.” [15] Brannon, Linda. “Gender: Psychological
Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Perspectives.” Allyn & Bacon (2005).
Research in Business (2012). [16] Trentham, Susan, and L. Larwood. “Gender
[3] Georgina, M, et al. “Gender discrimination, Discrimination and the Workplace: An Examination
victimisation and women’s mental health. “The of Rational Bias Theory.” Sex Roles 38.1(1998):1-
British journal of psychiatry: the journal of mental 28.
science (2018). [17] Platt, et al. “Unequal depression for equal work?
[4] Perdue, Peter C., J. Z. Lee, and W. Feng. “One quarter How the wage gap explains gendered disparities in
of humanity: Malthusian mythology and Chinese mood disorders (vol 149, pp 1, 2016).” Social
realities, 1700-2000.” Journal of Asian Studies Science & Medicine (2016).
59.2(2010):248-412. [18] Sadker, D, and M. Sadker . “Failing at Fairness: How
[5] Forbes, Kathryn. “Feminist Organizing around Our Schools Cheat Girls.” Contemporary Sociology
Gender Discrimination Lawsuits in Higher 24.1(1994):347.
Education.” Feminist Formations. (2018): 65-89. [19] Xin, N, “The Review of Gender Discriminations in
Print. Education”. Technological Information, (2011):63
[6] Bray, F. 1997. Technology and Gender: Fabrics of
Power in Late Imperial China. Berkeley: University
of California Press.

541