have to devote 12 to 16 hours a day to work. By the time they “arrive,” they are often
in their mid-30s, and only then do they finally have time for a social life, to get mar-
ried and have children.
Obviously, this arrangement works better for men, who may have wives who do
the housework and child care, than it does for women, who might want to spend time
developing a romantic relationship and having and raising children. It is therefore not
surprising that there are more male than female full professors. Nor is it surprising that
so many of those women who pursue their careers do not have children. The surprise
is often that anymothers can balance both family and career as well as they do.
Gender is a foundation of our identity, and it is also woven into the fabric of social
structures. It is one of the ways in which social activities are organized. Like race,
age, class, and sexuality, both aspects of gender—individual and institutional—are
bases of gender inequality.Gender Inequality on a Global
and Local Scale
Discrimination against women is a global problem. Just about every country in the
world treats its women less well than it treats its men (Kimmel, Lang, and Grieg 2000).294 CHAPTER 9SEX AND GENDER45(^4753)
45
44
52
52
41
43
40
41
48
48
53
46
4542
5352
53525146
(^485254)
52
47
53 45
4647
48
41
42
40
54
top 10 countries
least disparity between men and women
Gender Development Index, 2000
bottom 10 countries
most disparity between men and women
life expectancy for women is under 55 years
age given
high rank
medium rank
low rank
no data
FIGURE 9.1 The State of Women
Source:From The Penguin Atlas of Women in the Worldby Joni Seager, copyright © 1997, 2003 by Joni Seager, text. Copyright © 1997, 2003 by Myriad Editions Ltd.,
maps & graphics. Used by permission of Penguin, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.