Research Proposal on "Society Creates Limited Opportunity for Single Mothers"

Research Proposal 14 pages (3864 words) Sources: 25 Style: MLA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Gender Challenges

The all American work ethic, destructive enough by itself, also packs a gender double standard"

Letty Cottin Pogrebin (20th century).

Context of the Problem

Over time, families maintained by women with no spouse present have increased dramatically, as a proportion of all families. Families, noted as a group of two or more persons who reside together; related by birth, marriage, or adoption, may be classified either as "married-couple families or as families maintained by women or men without spouses."

In March 2006, a woman maintained approximately two in ten families; and increase from one in ten 36 years earlier. Families maintained by men increased from two to seven percent during this same period.

Today, either both parents work and simultaneously care for children, or "a single parent performs both roles, and families rely on care replacement services to manage these increasing demands."

When changes in the familial arena occur, with no corresponding changes in the work place often result in a mismatch that stimulates serious consequences for family life, and health, as well as children's emotional lives. Barriers that currently challenge the single parent's progress in the workplace include what may be known as the double bind or the glass ceiling, perspectives regarding gender, and child care concerns. "In patriarchal settings," women face a double bind because, despite an acknowledgment that effective leadership can be masculine or feminine, stereotypes still paint women as less able than men."

As the quote by Pogrebin introducing this study purports, the work ethic in the U.S. "packs a gender double standard."

The American workplace dilemma, albeit may be found in areas throughout the world, as Mary Stewart Van Leeuwen points out:

Anthropologists have found that around the world whatever is considered "men's work" is almost universally given higher status than "women's work." If in one culture it is men who build houses and women who make baskets, then that culture will see house-building as more important. In another culture, perhaps right next door, the reverse may be true, and basket- weaving will have higher social status than house-building.

Statement of the Problem

Gendering in the workplace, no matter the location in the world, the researcher contends, creates limitations on women, especially those heading single parent families. The lack of, as well as the blatant need for, clarity regarding this contemporary gender challenge that contributes to the glass ceiling and/or double bind for women may be seen in comments by Carly Fiorina, former chair and CEO of Hewlett Packard. Initially when questioned about the glass ceiling, Fiornia denied barriers for women in the workplace even existed. Later, Fiornia reportedly stated she would not rather focus on barriers; however, she amended her previous statement to admit she realized gender barriers do exist in the workplace, and that in fact she and other women she knew routinely faced them.

For effective gender-equitable roles, including those in leadership, to become a reality, those designating leadership have to identify, assess barriers, while also and promoting changes to countering barriers.

Contrary to clarity and open communication regarding gender discrimination in the workplace, a number of mechanisms protect unspoken rules that govern power and privilege in this area. These constraints "operate like a psychological or political double bind, in which the rules of the relationship of the community forbid communication about oppressive practices and beliefs that contradict the 'official story' of individual and organization equity."

In consideration of contemporary workplace constraints that continue to challenge women, this study explores components contributing to the problem of gendering in the workplace and the limitations this practice for women, particularly those heading single parent families.

Significance of the Study

As the researcher hopes to one day hold a prominent position in the business world, and desires to help ensure women understand how to overcome workplace hindrances to reach their full potentials, this study enhances learning about gender discrimination in the workplace. In addition, particularly in a society where males, as well as females, experience challenges regarding employment concerns, understanding how that too frequently in the past, the double bind also doubled to adversely affect the workplace, could not only help women in the workplace, but also stimulate a more positive workplace overall. In time, in turn, the researcher hopes, enhanced understandings from this study will ultimately filter down to help families; particularly the children.

Research Question and Sub-questions

As this thesis examines components contributing to the problem of gendering in the workplace and the limitations this practice for women, particularly those heading single parent families, it addresses the following question: How can women effectively overcome gender constraints in the workplace, particularly those women heading single parent families, to help ensure they reach their full potentials personally and professionally?

To answer this primary research question, this study addresses the following sub-questions:

What challenges relating to women in the workplace must be overcome to help them succeed in the workplace?

What viewpoints currently influence gendering in the workplace?

What are some concepts that need to be challenged regarding gendering in the workplace?

Research Design and Methodology as a guide for this study, the researcher utilized the case study methodology, a form of qualitative descriptive research. To secure information for this study, the researcher conducted a methodical search through a number of sources, which included, but were not limited to: Highbeam Research and Google databases.

Organization of the Study

The following four chapters constitute the body of this study.

Chapter I: Introduction

Chapter II: Review of the Literature

Chapter III: Findings

Chapter IV: Conclusion

Chapter I: Introduction

The first chapter introduces the focus for this study, presents the context of the problem, relates the problem statement, as well as the research question(s), along with the significance of the study, and the research methodology the researcher utilized in this study.

Chapter II: Review of the Literature This study's second chapter presents information the researcher retrieved and compiled from researched articles; books; etc. To address the research question.

Chapter III: Methodology Section, Discussion, and Analysis

During the third chapter of this study, the researcher presents a comparison using women of different races; discusses information related in the literature and analyzes findings. Information in this chapter corresponds to that presented in this study's Appendix section.

Chapter IV: Conclusion

Along with relating the researcher's concluding thoughts, the fourth chapter reflects a synopsis of relevant findings from researched information.

During the Literature Review chapter, the researcher examines workplace gendering in a number of locations in the world. As this study explores limitations on women in the workplace, especially those heading single parent families, some too often unspoken concerns are heard.

CHAPTER II

LITERATURE REVIEW

The all American work ethic taught...that as their earnings and success increase, men become "more manly," while women become "less feminine"

Letty Cottin Pogrebin.

During 1960, single parents only headed approximately 9% of families in the United States.

By 1985, the number had grown to 21% of all households being headed by a single mother, with 2% headed by a single father.

Even though families have radically changed during the past few decades, some workplace practices remain stagnant; slow to respond. In the past, society presented a more clear-cut separation of male and female roles within traditional marriage. During 1960, single parents only headed approximately 9% of families in the United States.

By 1985, the number had grown to 21% of all households being headed by a single mother, with 2% headed by a single father.

This study's literature review chapter presents a sampling of information, relevant to workplace gendering, one continuing stagnant workplace practice. During this study segment, the researcher examined information regarding this study's primary focus, to ultimately relate to ways women, particularly those women heading single parent families, can effectively overcome gender constraints in the workplace to help ensure they reach their full potentials personally and professionally. The review of literature examines the three following topical themes:

Gender challenges relating to women in the workplace,

Viewpoints that currently influence gendering in the workplace, and Concepts to challenge regarding gendering in the workplace.

Gender Challenges

In the Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty are Used Against Women, reportedly a controversial, yet at one time a best-selling book, Naomi Wolf asserts that companies carefully construct strategies to convince females to purchase their makeup, hair products and clothing. Wolf considers the companies' efforts to constitute a beauty backlash against females, and although not a conspiracy, contribute to an array of separate individual reflexes that contribute to a national mood that oppresses women.

According to Wolf, a relationship exists between female liberation and female beauty.

Wolf's research contends that a cultural backlash against feminism utilizes images of female beauty to keep women "in their place."

As women have broken through legal and material hindrances, images of female beauty have simultaneously increased. While women began to breach the power structure, Wolf notes, eating disorders increased, demand for cosmetic surgery spiraled upwards, pornography became spotlighted in the media, and women's focus on losing weight became an obsession to some.… READ MORE

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