Hochschild's The Girl Effect

She is the one who brings new life to Earth. She is the one who nurtures her family. She is the one who makes sacrifices for her loved one’s. She is the one who puts everyone’s needs before her own. She is the one who sustains the family. Yet she is the one who is treated atrociously by society and has to prove herself on every stage of life. Women have been suffering unequal treatment since existence of time. Authors Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn discusses inequality and inhuman treatment faced by women in their essay, “The Girl Effect”. They emphasize that women aren’t the problem, but the solution to problems. In contrast to author Arlie Russell Hochschild examines the effect capitalism economy has on society in her essay, “ From …show more content…
When WW1 broke out, women transitioned from household to the working force. They took over men 's jobs to support their family while the men fought. They started proving that women are capable to do the same amount of work as men. Yet they are not considered equivalent to men. Kristoff and WuDunn share the thoughts of a purse company manager, “they are obedient and work harder than men and we can pay them less”(210). Women are more dedicated and responsible than men yet they are paid less than them. Lower wage because of gender is one of the main form of gender inequality. Even if women work the same as men they are paid less than men.. More forms of workplace inequality includes, harassment, sexual bribery, gender based jokes and inappropriate comments. Another thing that make gender differences stand out conspicuously in workforce is how society expects women to handle both professional and personal lives in harmony. Hochschild discusses a story of working women, name Sherry Greenberg in her essay. Sherry is shown managing her child and office work efficiently by making her child gobble down the food quickly; but yet she is certified in the end. She is being compared to another mom as Hochschild mentions, “ The photo of happy mother and child suggests that the mother is rushing her son through breakfast, not to race out on all observing job but, to teach few piano lessons”(). Sherry is being rebuked because she has a corporate job. Her relationship to her child is shown to be unhappy as compared to a woman who has a less involving and observing job. In a sense, Sherry is being a target of women 's traditional roles and identities, that has been formed and maintained by the workplace and society. The concept of males and females being treated different is strongly influenced by how male and females are treated in