Gender Inequality

It didn't shock me when I first began seeing the crystal-clear gender inequalities that sprang up in Things Fall Apart. This isn't so baffling, considering the tribal culture and time period. Fortunately for women, opportunities and privileges are much more abundant nowadays. In America that is. Many cultures still persecute women. But speaking specifically of this country, women have come a long way. In fact, years ago a female candidate in the presidential election would be unheard of. There's still one issue however...


According to recent studies, there's still "gender wage gap" that exists in America, which basically translates into women working similar hours and getting paid a fraction of a man's salary. "A close look at the earnings of women and men who work 40 hours or more per week reveals that the wage gap may actually widen as the number of hours worked increases. Women working 41 to 44 hours per week earn 84.6% of what men working similar hours earn; women working more than 60 hours per week earn only 78.3% of what men in the same time category earn." (Lips, 2008). Bizarre circumstances for a country based on equality. This gap is greatest among whites, though still exists for other races.


This is unfortunate, but a huge improvement compared to how it used to be. Women used to be treated the way they are in Things Fall Apart and still are in some countries. Okonkwo's only relation to woman is within his three wife polygamy, in which beatings and disrespect are quite common. This source explains that "The world in Things Fall Apart is one in which patriarchy intrudes oppressively into every sphere of existence. It is an androcentric world where the man is everything and the woman nothing...Achebe's sexist attitude is unabashed and without apology. (Mezu)" ('Metacognizant', 2001). Women used to stay at home, cook, clean, and look after children, but there's been a huge increase of women in the workplace. "According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, white men (who once dominated the workplace) now account for about 45percent of all workers. White women and women of color make up 47 percent ofthe workplace. In 1995, 76 percent of women between the ages of 25 and 54 worked outside the home, up from 50 percent in 1970." (Net Industries, 2007).


There's no definite sign that the gender wage gap will be thinning to a close any time soon. However, based on Hillary Clinton running for president and the surge in women joining the workforce, I'd say it's possible and probable. I hope the gap closes because this country is supposed to be characteristic of awarding people based on the effort they put forth. Not race, age, gender, religion, etc.