The Importance of Female Empowerment in American Society

Hilary Clinton once said in her 2016 Democratic National Convention that this is “the first time that a major party has nominated a woman for President… So let’s keep going, until every one of the 161 million women and girls across America has the opportunity she deserves.” As the first female presidential candidate in American political history, Clinton inspires other women to pursue their own dreams and ambitions. Her legacy will be remembered in the hearts of many Americans. In recent decades, women have been overcoming barriers in education and breaking previously held perceptions.

And yet, gender inequality is an unsolved issue in today’s American society. Women are often viewed as inferior to men when it comes to leadership and capability. They are still underrepresented in top occupational fields despite their level of education and distinguished careers. It is important to empower women to create equality because women are facing discrimination, being treated unfairly, and demanding equality in workplaces. The only way to achieve a gender-balanced representation in society is to grant women access to equal power, recognition, and opportunity.

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Thus, eliminating bias, closing the gender pay gap and promoting higher education are ways to put an end to this inequality.

Gender bias affects womens’ career outcomes and leads to a widening gender gap in participation in the workforce. In the article, “The cost of inequality: For women, process until they get near power,” Clea Simon cites a study from Making Caring Common Project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE), “almost a quarter (23 percent) of teenage girls preferred male political leaders over female ones.

Only 8 percent preferred woman leaders. Forty percent of the boys surveys preferred male leaders, while only 4 percent preferred women.” In other words, a majority of individuals think that a male is more capable and responsible to hold leadership, and this deeply- rooted cultural perception should be eliminated because it prevents women from achieving equal opportunities and affects their academic and occupational choices. Thus, overcoming this bias helps create equality among genders, helps broaden more opportunities for women to varieties of careers, and narrowing the gap of having the potential of future leaders.

Furthermore, women generally are paid less compared to males. A 2017 study from the Institute For Women’s Policy Research shows a female worker earns only 80.5 cents for every dollar by men, a gender wage gap of 20 percent. In the article, “Equal Opportunity, Unequal Outcomes: Exploring Gender Inequality In Post-College Career Outcomes”, Lapan contends, “The data indicates that women have consistently earned, on average, less than men. While many efforts have been made to close the gender pay gap, women still lag behind men.” Lapan explains that though much efforts have been made to close the gap, women still cannot acquire equal pay compared to men. Raising pay for women can allow them to pursue a higher quality of life. This could not only provide more opportunities for them but also increase participation in the workforce. As a whole, a more balanced representation in the labor force can boost diversity and can generate more productivity and growth in the economy.

Moreover, promoting higher education for women is significant to aid them for future employment. In Lapan’s article, she quoted, “Since one of the primary aims of higher education is to prepare graduates to obtain gainful employment, colleges and universities have an obligation to ensure that they are providing all student equal opportunity to succeed professionally.” To put it differently, educational institutions should invest more resources to provide students with more access to different opportunities and quality education in order to overcome this inequality. Women with advanced education and greater technical skills have a higher advantage to gain employment and a brighter future. It is thus important to raise awareness to allow women the power to view as equal between genders.

Every woman should have the right and power she deserved, and it is thus important to empower women to create an equalized society regardless of genders. With an increasing number of women demanding equality, it is significant to evaluate the status of women in society by recognizing their talents, potential, and ability to hold responsibilities. Changing bias, narrowing gender pay gap, and providing women with more education resources are solutions to justify this inequality in order to achieve a fair and just community. Overcoming this inequality not only demonstrates a nation’s unity and progress but more importantly also inspires women to achieve their dreams. Thus, a balanced represented society should ensure both genders receive equal benefits.