Social Perceptions of Gender Differences and the Subjective Significance of the Gender Inequality Issue

Abstract

Background. Gender inequality continues to reproduce itself in hidden and ambivalent forms and leads to invisible barriers in women’s careers and lives. The authors were interested in how social perceptions of gender differences would relate to the maintenance of gender inequality in various spheres of life. Objective. The purpose of the presented research was to study social perceptions of gender differences in relation to the subjective significance of the gender inequality issue. Design. The study was conducted via an online survey throughout FebruarySeptember of 2019. The sample included 106 people aged 18 to 68 (M=30.2, σ=10.5), 49% of respondents were women. The authors have developed and tested a questionnaire assessing the adherence to ideas regarding evident gender differences in various spheres of life. The reliability of all scales of the questionnaire has been tested. Respondents also completed a questionnaire identifying their perceptions of gender inequality and shared their life experience with respect to this phenomenon in the form of free description. Results. The following two latent factors reflecting different aspects of gender perceptions have been identified: “Career Inequality” and “Differences in Social Spheres”. Indicators of the subjective significance of gender inequality (which include gender awareness, frequency of gender inequality witnessing, personal experience of gender discrimination and the emotional significance of this experience) were positively correlated with perceptions of career inequalities (these support ideas regarding gender differences when it comes to opportunities for professional realization) and negatively correlated with perceptions of differences within social spheres (these support ideas regarding the existence of essential gender differences within the family, politics and everyday life). Conclusion. Articulation of personal experiences of gender inequality is associated with social perceptions of the absence of essential gender differences in various social domains (egalitarianism) and sensitivity to gender inequality with regards to career opportunities.

Development and validation of the Multidimensional Gender Inequality Perception Scale (MuGIPS)

“…Existing studies are approached either from a qualitative or a quantitative perspective but are limited to the study of only some of the domains in which inequality occurs [27][28][29] or use a dichotomous response scale [30]. Moreover, some studies examine the perception of gender inequality but intermingled with other constructs such as sexism [31]. As a result, the findings obtained from such studies cannot be solely attributed to the perception of gender inequality.…”

“…Moreover, some measures consist of general quantitative questions about perceived gender inequality (e.g., “Do you think that, in general, men and women are treated equally in your country?” [ 29 ]) or employ single indicators combining different dimensions and using only a “yes/no” response format (e.g., “Do men and women enjoy equal status in their family and society?” [ 30 ]). Other instruments tend to mix perceived gender inequality with other variables focus on respondents’ personal experiences, beliefs and sexist ideologies; or account for different dimensions that do not correspond to the dimensions used in objective indexes’ indicators [ 31 ], for example, leaving aside the health dimension. Our research overcomes these limitations by providing a measure with appropriate psychometric properties that address the multidimensionality of gender inequality perceptions.…”

“…[30]). Other instruments tend to mix perceived gender inequality with other variables focus on respondents' personal experiences, beliefs and sexist ideologies; or account for different dimensions that do not correspond to the dimensions used in objective indexes' indicators [31], for example, leaving aside the health dimension. Our research overcomes these limitations by providing a measure with appropriate psychometric properties that address the multidimensionality of gender inequality perceptions.…”

Exploring the Relationship: Gender Perceptions and Motivation in Pursuing Professional Piano Careers

“…Female musicians are present at the educational level but not much so at the professional level (Valenzuela, et al, 2020). This gender inequity 1 is involved with musicians' inherent motivation to pursue a professional career, often affected by the social environment, is defined as the immediate surroundings influenced by society and humans with their unique characteristics and skills in which social relationships and communities grow (Aube, 2011;Gurieva, et al, 2022;Valenzuela, et al, 2020). Society often makes up the social environment, promoting gender perceptions, defined as manners in which society labels characteristics as either feminine or masculine (Nonte, et al, 2021).…”

Views on Gender Differences in the Physics Classroom

“…The debate regarding gender-based differences started with the perceptions of people regarding these differences [14][15][16]. Earlier research has not yet led to conclusive results or a complete picture.…”