Introduction

Wikipedia explains that Gender inequality acknowledges that men and women are not equal
and that gender affects an individual’s lived experience. These differences arise from distinction
in biology, psychology and cultural norms. Gender inequality has been diminishing throughout
its history and significant advancements towards equality have been made beginning mostly in
the early 1900’s. According to the UNDP, this index s a composite measure to quantify the loss
of achievement within a country due to the gender inequality. It uses three costs: the
reproductive health, empowerment and labour market participation.

The causes of Gender inequality

Feminism is a social movement whose basic goal is equality between. Women and men in
many times and places in the past, people have insisted that women and men have similar
capabilities and have tried to better the social position of all women , as well as the status of
disadvantaged men. As organized movement, modern feminism rose in the nineteenth century
in Europe, America and Japan in response to the great inequality between the legal statuses of
women and men citizen.

The first wave feminists of the nineteenth and early twentieth century’s fought for the rights were
among those once denied to women of every social class., racial category, ethnicity, and
religion the right to vote (suffrage) to own property and capital, to borrow money, to inherit, to
keep money earned to initiate a divorce, to retain custody of children, to go to college, to
become the professionally certified physician, to ague cases in court, and to serve on jury.

The theory of equality that feminists of the nineteenth century used in their fights for women’s
rights came out of liberal political philosophy, which said that all men should be equal under the
law, that no one should have special privileges or rights. Of course when the Us constitution
was written , that concept of equality excluded enslaved men and indentured manservant,
because they were not citizen as well as all women, no matter what their social status, because
they were not really free either. The legal status of supposedly free women was the same as
that of children economically dependent and deriving their social status from their parents or
dependents.
Factors contributing to the spread of HIV/AIDS

It has been stated that according to the World Health Organization, developing countries still
have the highest number of HIV/AIDS infections. Despite increase awareness and numerous
sensitization campaigns HIV transmission rates and prevalence still remains high in African
countries slowing down the progress of the fight against the disease. There is no doubt, the
outlook of HIV/AIDS has changed drastically in the last couple of years considering increased
life expectancy thanks to factors such as easier access to drugs. However, it’s still a cause for
concerned in Africa when despite all the efforts from government, non-governmental
organizations, donors and the private sector, HIV/AIDS still remains as scourge in the continent

The main factors which contribute to HIV/AIDS spread

 IGNORANCE

Even though the majority of the population knows about HIV/AIDS , people ignorantly continue
to participate in activities and practices that encourage transmission. Recent studis have shown
many Africans simply ignore simple measures such as protecting themselves during intercourse
knowing too well the consequences that come with unprotected sex.

 MULTIPLE PARTNERS

This is a known major cause of HIV across the globe but Africa has its share of challenges as
many individuals have more than on e sexual partner. Prostitution is rife in the continental and
people don’t take issues to do with infidelity seriously.

 CULTURAL PRACTICES

Africa is known across to be the bedrock of rich culture. However, some cultural practices
continue to promote the spread of HIV across the continent. Polygamy, wife inheritance and
FGM (female genital mutilation) have been blamed for fuelling the spread of HIV/AIDS
especially among populations in rural Africa where these practices are held in high esteem.

 POOR ACCESS TO MARTENITY SERVICES

women especially in rural Africa lack proper access to maternal services which forces them to
bear children at home without help and supervision from qualified medical transmission have
been reported as HIV expectant women have no idea what they need to do to prevent passing
on virus to their unborn child.

 ILLITERACY

Illiteracy levels are still high in Africa with some people still having no idea of how HIV/AID is
transmitted. Even though many are aware, they lack knowledge about both transmission and
prevention leading them to engage in risky behavior that exposes them to the virus. Myths,
beliefs and misconception about HIV/AIDS are easily believed by illiterate people.

 HIV/AIDS STIGMA

The stigma associated with HIV still remains high and for this reason, many people do not go for
HIV testing for fear status being known by the community. Stigma also causes many to avoid
taking ARV drugs in the presence of others avoid being discovered they have HIV/AIDS.
Because of this virus continues to spread.

 ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE

Drug and alcohol abuse is rampant among the youth in African countries. Sharing of injections
among drugs users is the most common HIV transmission method. Alcoholics are often unable
to make wise decisions pertaining engaging in sexual activities exposing themselves to a myriad
of risks.

 POVERTY

Developing countries in Africa still have significant section of the population that live below the
poverty line. Poor people are often forced to do anything to earn a living including engaging in
unprotect sex exposing them to HIV/AIDS.

 POLITICAL CONFLICTS AND WARS

Sections of the African population have tribal conflict and civil wars that hinder healthcare
access to individual with HIV/AIDS. On the other hand, the increasing number of refugee and
refugee camps lead to desperation with drug abuse and prostitution cases on the increase.

The above factors have prevented Africa from successfully dealing with the HIV/AIDS
pandemic. This calls for active engagement of all concerned parties to help prevent new
infection and educate the masses on how to prevent HIV/AIDS.
CHARACTERISTICS OF GENDER INEQUALITY

This exploratory study identifies characteristics of persons mostly likely to be sensitive to the
problems of gender inequality (sexism) that confronts the women. Gender inequality, or in other
words, gender discrimination refers to unfair rights between male and female based on different
gender roles which leads to unequal treatment in life. The concept; gender inequality has been
widely known in human history but not until the beginning the 20th century has the
transformation of gender relations become’’ one of the most rapid, profound social changes’’
(Wright and Roger 2009). And at the same time, the position of men and women were generally
set.

The growth of this situation has been obviously seen. According to a survey in America female’s
salary at work is 75% as low as male’s. coming back to last century, when man were paid 1
dollar, the amount that women received was just 58 cents, in accordance with the law in 1963
(Trans 2012) and Vietnam, gender inequality is shown in the difference between two genders in
the number of babies. Statistics of ministry of planning and investment in 2010 reported that
there were 110.6 new-born boys out of 100 new-born girls which were much higher than the
standard rate.

However as a matter of fact, gender discrimination has made a big argument in society about
whether the equality among genders should be encouraged or not. Regarding to this problem,
American people seems appreciate the position of women, meanwhile, the Chinese tend to
think of higher power of men in life. Thus, this paper, with the purpose of reporting the current
state of gender inequality, its impacts as well as the opposing sentiments towards this problem,
will give you another look at this controversial problem.

WAYS OF ENDING GENDER INEQUALITY

The gender system turns on its defining cultural beliefs, and these tell people the cues by which
they can classify people as males and females, the different behaviors and traits that can be
expected of them, and why these differences imply male superiority. Ridgeway and correll
consider what can be done to harness interactional processes to change the gender system and
increase equality. (Contemporary Sociology 29(1), 110, 2000
Sociologists have recognized increasingly that gender is not primarily a role or identity. It is an
institutionalized system of social practices for constituting people as two significantly different
categories, males and females and organizing relations of inequality around that difference
( Ferree, Lober and Hess 1999; Lorber 1994; Ridgeway and Smith-Lovin1999) like other system
of difference and inequality , such as race and class, the gender system is multilevel, involving
cultural beliefs and distributions of resources at the macro level, patterns of behavior and
situational structures at the interactional level, and selves and identities at the individual level.

The interactional level is especially important for gender, however. Compared to those on
opposite sides of race and class divides, the advantaged and disadvantaged in the gender
system interact frequently and intimately. Gender crosscuts kin, is involved in reproduction and
heterosexual behavior, and divides the population into two similarly sized groups, all of which
increase interaction between men and women. With men and women interacting so frequently,
interaction becomes a potent forum in which the basic rules of the gender system turns on its
defining cultural beliefs; these tell us the cues by which we can classify people as males or
females, the different behaviors and traits we can expect of them once we have done so, and
why these differences imply male superiority. To sustain these defining beliefs of man and
women are sufficiently different in ways that justify men’s greater power and privilege. As a
result, interactional processes are vital link in the gender system.

‘’If we really want to make a difference, one of the best solutions to end gender in equality is to
promote better care for infants and pregnant women. If we met women’s needs for family
planning and new born healthcare services , 250 thousand maternal deaths and as many as 1,7
million newborns deaths could be averted’’. Gender inequality is alive and well, in general white
women make about 77 cents on dollar compared to men, but it’s much worse for women of
color. Black women only make 64% and Latina women only make 56% compared to men. For
women 15-24 years old worldwide, rape and domestic abuse are the leading causes of death,
coming in over cancer, accidents, war and malaria.
The effect of gender inequality in an economy

Gender inequality has many effects on the economy, some good, some bad, depending on what
position you are in. Some of the biggest effects are below. This isn’t intentioned to be pro or con
on any of these results, just facts about how changes have and will affect the economy, as
women start to earn more money and move into higher positions.

Conclusion

In conclusion there is no sustainable development without gender equality and from my

development perspective; the world may miss accomplishable targets because of gender-
inequality. (‘Without firm action’) women and girls represent half of the world’s population and
therefore also half its potential. ‘’we need to be gender specific when it comes to employment
and companies could see the benefits of hiring women and break the stereotypical view. An
equal society begins with women reclaiming their strong voice, and then gender wouldn’t be s
much of a relation of power. Gender equality is a fundamental right which contributes to healthy
society filled with respectful relationships between one another. [Women can] address their
conditions in life, either resisting or submitting to oppressive relation. (Charmes et al 426)
women begin to step outside of norm are questioned for their power and capability to
accomplish their great ambitions. Women have every right to strive for what they want; t is
society that tells them differently.
 TABLE OF CONTENT

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………pg 1

The causes of gender inequality………………………………………………………………….pg 1

Factors contributing to the spread of HIV/AIDS…………………………………………………pg 2

The main factors which contributes to HIV/AIDS spread………………………………………pg 2-3

Characteristics of gender inequality………………………………………………………………...pg 4

Ways of ending gender inequality………………………………………………………………..pg 5

Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………………………………6

References………………………………………………………………………………………………7
REFERENCES

1. Google Scholar (internet)

2. Wright and Roger 2009
3. Trans 2012
4. Contemporary Sociology 29(1) 110, 2000
5. Feree, Lober and Hess 1999
6. Lober 1994
7. Ridgeway and Smith-lovin (1999)
8. Charmes et al 426
NAME: BABALWA

SURNAME: SIKOTI

STUDENT #: 201925774

COURSE: LIFE KNOWLEDGE ACTION (LKA) 111

FACILITATORs: MS LUYANDA Jarana & nkosiyazi

kanjiri

DUE DATE: 04/03/2019