Income Inequality Research Paper

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Tyler Appelquist Professor Jennifer Randles Sociology 7 March 2011 Income Inequality for Females Sociologists have and will continue to study the factors contributing to gender income inequality. Even though cultural, sociological, and economic conditions for women in the United States have greatly improved over the last few decades, income inequality is still a fact for the majority of women in the workforce. There are many factors that contribute to this income inequality, and sociologists continue, through nomothetic and longitudinal studies, to provide further insight which, hopefully, one day may lead to further change. The U. S. Census Bureau released the results from the annual American Community Survey on September 22, 2011, and…show more content…
Certain female personality traits may lead to prejudice, bias, and stereotyping. For example, studies show that women, on average, are more concerned than men with developing and maintaining positive social relationships. In fact, women who feel competitive toward others actually score lower on measures of self-esteem (Gray 555). In many corporations, this “agreeableness” is often seen as soft and non-assertive. However, this personality trait is very useful in collaboration and negotiation. While men may be prone to risk-taking and competition, women are better collaborators and better at achieving long-term results, and, in fact, companies that employ more women in upper-level management are more profitable than those that rely on male talent…show more content…
They are earning college degrees and are beginning careers in fields previously dominated by their male counterparts. They increasingly, although rather slowly, are being promoted into high-level management positions. Even more importantly, they and others like sociologists and psychologists keep income inequalities in the news in hopes of impacting change. Works Cited Cotter, David A., Joan M. Hermsen, Seth Ovadia, and Reese Vannerman. “The Glass Ceiling Effect.” Social Forces. 80.2 (2001): 655-81. Print. Gray, Peter. Psychology. 5th ed. New York: Worth Publishers, 1987. Print. Hesse-Biber, Sharlene N. and Gregg L. Carter. Working women in America. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005. Print. Kay, Katty and Clair Shipman. “Fixing the Economy is Women’s Work.” Washington Post 12 July 2009: Print. Tavernise, Sabrina. “Gains in Equality of Incomes in Downturn.” New York Times 30 September 2011: Print. “What Happened to Earnings During the Recession?” measureofamerica.org, n.d. Web.17 April
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