The conceptions of sex and gender are not interchangeable with one another in any manner. The genetic and biological distinctions between males and females are referred to as sex. These disparities can be noticed in both males and women. To put it another way, the cultural construction of a person’s identity influences whether they are regarded as female, masculine, or something else. Another method to talk about a person’s gender is to discuss the biological characteristics of that individual. Anthropologists have established that the terms “sex” and “gender” can have various interpretations depending on the situation and throughout human history and the current condition. To begin, an individual’s sexual orientation is not a reliable prediction of whether or not they will advance to the position of leadership within the family, society, or country. This is true in all three contexts. People of any gender can become good leaders if they strongly commit to understanding and gender equality. For instance, it is customarily expected of women to assume the head of the household and be in charge of making decisions that impact their own families. Indigenous people are an example of this phenomenon. Women typically pursue careers outside the home, but most men in today’s society choose to remain at home and raise their families’ offspring. Second, even though men and women share many of the same physiological characteristics, the mental processes they go through are very different. This is although they have many of the same physical attributes. For example, physiologists have explored the consequences that sexual activity has on the health of women by performing studies. This investigation was sparked by the observation that men and women generally have equivalent physiological shapes; nonetheless, males tend to spend more time resting than women, and men tend to communicate using more abstract language than women, among other distinctions. As a direct result of this realization, the group of physiologists concluded that they should focus their research on the differences between the sexes. Thirdly, because it depends on people’s physical interactions, sex cannot successfully anticipate how a human being would behave in their social and personal life. This is because sex is a physical activity. For instance, before the term “transgender” was first coined in the 1970s, many people were obliged to make sense of their gender identity by referring to the only idea readily available at the time, which was their sexual orientation. This was because sexual orientation was the sole concept that was easily accessible at that period. There is not the slightest connection at all between the gender of a person and the sexual orientation they identify with. One more time, a human being’s gender does not determine the depth of their life experiences, regardless of whether they identify as a man or a woman. This is true for both men and women. For instance, before the beginning of the industrial revolution in ancient Europe, men were expected to conduct difficult labour, while women were relegated to caregivers for their families. This expectation persisted until the advent of the industrial revolution. However, in today’s culture, men and women take part in challenging duties such as cleaning and transporting large objects. Examples of these tasks include. The continual discrimination of a particular group of individuals based on criteria such as ethnicity, culture, nationality, and economic position might have the unintended consequence of gender discrimination. The progress of Bangladesh is not even a remote prospect unless the country’s male and female populations are given the same amount of attention they deserve. Until then, the country’s advancement is not even a remote possibility. Something like this simply is not going to occur in Bangladesh. Even though the government has looked at various potential answers to the problems caused by gender discrimination, their efforts have been futile so far. To begin, one tactic that could be utilized to bring gender discrimination in Bangladesh to a less severe level would be to advocate for equal opportunity in the spheres of education, health care, and employment, as well as to include women in pursuits that are regarded as being part of the activities that constitute the bulk of the economy. Second, one method for reducing the gender gap in Bangladesh is encouraging a bigger percentage of the country’s female population to participate in educational opportunities. This is one of the strategies that has been implemented. Literacy rates for male youngsters aged five to nine years old were 61.12 per cent in 2010. On the other hand, the percentage of young women in the country who were literate in 2010 stood at 54.8 per cent across the country. In today’s modern culture, there has been an increase in the percentage of illiterate women, yet, there is still room for improvement in this field. Thirdly, to do away with prejudice based on a person’s gender, there needs to be equal financial support given to both men and women. In addition, males and girls in Bangladesh are considered somewhat differently regarding the alternatives for open jobs. This disparity is of such a stunning magnitude that it defies comprehension. In Bangladesh in 2019, 57.4 per cent of working-age women engaged in the labour force, while 69.2 per cent of working-age males did so. The gender gap in labour force participation was widest in the agricultural sector. It is possible to bring about a change in the current state of gender discrimination by, for example, broadening women’s access to new opportunities, putting an end to socially destructive forces, enacting laws that are effective in protecting women, and ensuring that women can fully participate in public life. These are all examples of ways in which a change in the current state of gender discrimination could be brought about.
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SEX AND GENDER IN THE CASE OF BUSINESS
The creation of new jobs increased income, and the advancement of innovative practices are just a few of the many societal benefits of expanding and developing current businesses. Not only do entrepreneurs need to make meaningful choices in various jobs, but they also have the additional responsibility of ensuring that these choices are appropriate for their company and themselves. There hasn’t been much investigation on how women entrepreneurs plan to expand their businesses. Compared to male entrepreneurs, female entrepreneurs are more likely to prioritize non-economic goals, such as finding a healthy work-life balance and placing a higher value on employee relationships and societal satisfiers, which may negatively impact their businesses’ economic performance or growth. In the current investigation, we claim that an entrepreneur’s gender identity, or the extent to which an entrepreneur possesses characteristics traditionally linked with gender stereotypes, is a factor in the success of their business. For this purpose, one of the primary objectives of the current research is to investigate the connection between the gender of business owners, the expansion plans they have for their existing companies, and the entrepreneurs’ gender and gender identity. We reasoned that an investigation into the expansion aspirations of business owners of established enterprises might help explain sex variations in the decision to expand. Thus we conducted such an investigation. The self-construal of entrepreneurs as a potential moderator of the association between sex and gender identity as well as the relationship between gender identity and the aim to expand a business is the focus of the current study, which has a couple of other vital goals as well. This is significant considering that people create and run their businesses for several reasons besides expanding their companies or maximizing their financial returns. People worldwide are entitled to the fundamental human right of gender equality. Empowering women and girls economically and socially strengthens their position. It provides them with the agency to make decisions that are beneficial to their health and well-being as well as the health and well-being of their families. We believe that women and girls may significantly improve their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) if given more control over their social and economic circumstances. This improves their capacity to participate in decision-making processes such as those about marriage and pregnancy. The ability of women and girls to transform social relationships and the institutions and discourses that exclude them and keep them in poverty is referred to as social empowerment. This ability might exist on an individual or collective level.
HOW GERDR DISCRIMINATION IS AFFECTING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF MANY COUNTRIES
The differences caused by nature are referred to as biological differences, whereas the differences that humans cause include behaviour, education, and views held by members of society; these are referred to as social and cultural differences. There is no basis in biology for discrimination based on gender. It is entirely the product of human ingenuity. For instance, men are regarded as superior to women, and as a result, they typically receive higher pay for the same work. They are thought to possess a higher level of intelligence. Unequal treatment is not a product of nature. It only contributes to various reproductive organs of the species. Discrimination based on gender in social and cultural contexts is the primary driver of socioeconomic difficulties and micro and macroeconomic underdevelopment. Girls and women bear the brunt of the adverse effects of rigid gender norms and roles. They are more likely to have their freedom and mobility restricted, they are subjected to epidemic levels of violence and harassment worldwide, and they have fewer opportunities to choose how they want to live. Inequality between the sexes impedes both development and economic growth. Girls and women who are denied access to appropriate opportunities incur significant financial losses for themselves and their families, communities, and nations. The empowerment and well-being of women and girls would significantly improve if we were to achieve gender equality. Only 38 percent of the world’s human capital wealth is accounted for by women, whereas men account for 62 percent. Women often contribute little more than a third or less of the total human capital wealth in low- and lower-middle-income nations. Women are being completely shut out of the job market and managerial positions as a direct result of discrimination based on their gender. There is a widespread belief among many businesses that males have a more considerable duty in terms of providing for their families than women do. As a result, men have a more substantial entitlement to the employment opportunities they want.
THE FIVE APPROACHES YOU CAN TAKE TO FIGHT GENDER INEQUALITY
1 . Ensure that girls have access to educational opportunities.
There are over 130 million young women around the world who do not attend school. Girls are more likely than boys to have never attended school at any point in their lives. It is high time that we start placing a greater emphasis on women’s education.
2 . Provide women with the opportunities to achieve economic success and positions of authority.
Sixty-two per cent of the world’s nations have never had a woman serve as their nation’s or government’s leader. Women are outnumbered in legislative bodies worldwide by a factor of four to one. If there were an equal number of women and men in political positions, then the concerns and principles held dear by women would be more accurately reflected. 2019 will mark the year that the Women’s Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act is officially enacted into law.
3 . Put an end to all forms of physical and sexual abuse against women.
Every day, 137 women are murdered by a member of their own family or an intimate partner. At some time in their lives, 15 million girls between the ages of 15 and 19 have been the victims of sexual assault. According to the most recent study from UNICEF, most victims of human trafficking are females and young girls.
4 . Make it a priority to give girls and women access menstrual health services.
Menstrual hygiene management is required for girls and young women to be able to participate in their day-to-day lives. Women living in poverty are more likely to suffer the consequences of inadequate menstruation care. The House only approved the Refugee Sanitation Facility Safety Act of Representatives in the United States (H.R.615).
5 . Put an end to the marriage of minors.
Around the world, 12 million young women get married before the age of 18 every single year. Child marriage is a problem that primarily affects girls and is mainly fueled by gender inequity and poverty. Girls Not Brides is one of the most well-known groups in the world, striving to raise awareness about these problems in different parts of the world. It has partnered with over a thousand other civil societies worldwide.
To sum up, this article opens many points of view about sex and gender in society and the business environment. Anthropologists have established that the terms “sex” and “gender” can have various interpretations. The cultural construction of a person’s identity influences whether they are regarded as female or masculine. People of any gender can become good leaders if they firmly commit to understanding and gender equality. A person’s gender does not determine the depth of their life experiences, regardless of whether they identify as a man or a woman. The progress of Bangladesh is not even a remote prospect unless the country’s male and female populations are given the same attention they deserve. Women entrepreneurs are more likely to prioritize non-economic goals, such as finding a healthy work-life balance. The self-construal of entrepreneurs as a potential moderator of the association between sex and gender identity is the focus of the current study. We believe that women and girls may significantly improve their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) if given more control over their social and economic circumstances.
Reference:
1 . Sex differences in entrepreneurs’ business growth intentions: an identity approach
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