Are we still facing gender inequality? Some people might say no, while most people would nod their heads as a "yes". Gender oppression is still one of the biggest issues we face today (along side of racism), and still being fought against. Many young women and men, don't realize they are dealing with gender oppression. You can see this everywhere, in the media, social networks, magazines etc. Especially in media, it sets a standard on what 'beauty' is. Women should be skinny and have long hair etc, while the men have to be 'bulky' and 'muscular'. The main movement for gender equality is 'Feminist theory', its goal was to empower women, and taking control of their own destiny and body. It has come a long way from women being able to vote to being a CEO of a large company (although there are more males than women in this field) and many other accomplishments. But today, the word itself has an ugly reputation attached to it, and many young adults reject this idea because of it. .
The Feminist movement started in the early 1800's, accomplishing the Nineteenth Amendment which grants women to vote, to equal employment and equal access to higher education. In Sociology, the Feminist theory take on "other theoretical views, especially conflict theory and symbolic interaction" (L. Lindsey 14). Based on Karl Marx, Conflict theory focuses on how society is a opposition between different groups with different social classes and their struggle to maintain or achieve resources and/or social status. It emphasizes how society maintains its order by Capitalism, the higher class struggles to keep their status, and dig up as much as profit from the lower class. While conflict theory focuses on different social groups, the feminist theory shows how gender roles play out. The males being the dominant group who have more control over resources, and economy than women do. This gender roles plays out in home and family, where women felt most oppression started in a patriarchal family.
