3) Here are the differences this paper will cover; it will cover finances, feminine vs. masculine traits, and economics. Being a single mother is different from being a single father because masculinity often outweighs femininity and economics today. In the society today there is still sexism that occurs in the workplace, and often men will still obtain a higher job then women, therefore having much higher pay than women. According to Baer (2011) “The median average income for all single-mother families was just $25,172 — down by more than $2,000 since 2000. The median average income for married couples with children was three times greater and, for the relatively few single-father families, nearly one and a half times greater.
They are held back by traditional gender roles. Many women thus have to work two jobs, at the workplace and at home as The U.S. is one of a few countries that doesn’t provide paid maternity leave, so women often lose the opportunity to advance. There is also a huge disparity of women in government positions, as the U.S. ranks #69 among countries with the highest percentage of women in government. Women make up 50% of the population in the United States, but only 17% of Congress and have never served as president. A large part of this has to do with stereotypes, as women are seen as weak and unlikely to serve better than their male counterparts on issues such as national defense.
Many women in the United States are viewed as strong and independent people. However, women are also shown to be not as powerful and equal to men, women’s voices are still not heard equally today. The blunt truth is that men still run the world. Thirty years after women became 50 percent of the college graduated in the United States; men still hold more leadership positions in the industry and the government. It is a proven fact that “A man is selected for hire over a woman” (Yurkiewicz) while women should automatically be the ones to sit at home and be less help then a man.
The United States spends six to 10 percent of healthcare on costs caused by obesity compared to 2 to 3.5 percent in other western countries (Schwarz & Peterson, 2010). Schwarz and Peterson (2010) also explained that adolescent obesity affects the nation’s ability to serve and protect. This is because more than a quarter of 17 to 24 years olds are not fit enough to enroll in the armed services due to being overweight. Adolescence is a crucial stage for implementing and influencing health behaviors. Many of the habits formed during this timeframe will last well into adulthood (Schwarz & Peterson, 2010).
Likewise, more women than men tend to apply for lower-paying cashier positions-a trend that inadvertently skews averages down for women. This is what makes it seem that women and men are paid differently. Walmart has taken the steps to reduce the disparity occurring in the promotion and pay of women and men. They told their 50,000 managers to promote more women and minorities, with 15 percent of the managers’ bonuses tied to achieving
At present, nearly 8% of children 4 to 5 years of age in the United States are overweight. Whereas, in general, the increases in prevalence cross the entire pediatric population, girls have been more affected than boys (Williams, C. L. 2001). Childhood is a critical period for shaping a healthy lifestyle. More kids are obese due to the lack of activity and the increase of calories. The average American parent(s) work a full- time job and that leaves less time to cook dinner; making
However, there is research to suggest that the media’s image of beauty is absolutely unrealistic and could cause harm to men and women’s confidence. Eating disorders have become more common than ever before. Weight loss plans and dieting schemes have become a part of almost everyone’s lives. This is because magazine, television shows, and movies portray beauty as “thin and underfed” in the word of Jennifer Lawrence. The Global Foundation of Eating Disorders states the fact that “eating disorders affect more than three times as many people as Type 1 Diabetes and nearly as many people as asthma” and that “one in ten people will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives” (GFED 6).
Double Jeopardy Women of color-Black, Latina, Asian American and Native Americans make up 20 percent of the United State’s population. However, women from these minority groups experience the “Double Jeopardy” of racism and sexism in our societies (Gutierrez, 1990). Double Jeopardy is when people experience double discrimination in several dimensions of their everyday life because of their membership in both the subordinate sexual and racial groups. In other words, people who are doubly disadvantaged because they are women and are from a minority group are the victim of double jeopardy. According to previous studies, women earn significantly lower salaries, are overrepresented in low-status occupations and receive average low level of education (Gutierrez, 1990).
The Modern Plague: Obesity With one of the highest obesity rates in the world, many Americans are affected by this disease, however, they continue to make poor choices in regards to their health. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that over 65% of U.S. adults were overweight, 32% were obese, and about 5% were extremely obese (Marchiondo). Considering that more than half of our population is at risk for obesity, Americans do not seem very distraught. Even with all the dieting techniques, negative depictions in the media towards heavier individuals, advanced technology to help combat obesity, and being one of the world’s most developed nations in terms of resources
In addition, overweight and obese people are portrayed in a negative way in the media, including television and movies. Sociocultural influences on body image can lead to eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia and even obesity if an overweight viewer does not feel that she or he are living up to the culturally desirable image. The end result is a serious psychological as well as health issue. While obesity among adults has doubled since 1980, overweight among adolescents has tripled. The United States Office of the Surgeon General (2001)