The 1964 Civil Rights Act - 1173 Words

Title IIV of the 1964 Civil Rights Act forbids the discrimination in employment on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, or religion by employers. So why it is that sex segregation is so rampant in the workplace still? Segregation is defined as the characteristic on which groups are sorted symbolized dominant or subordinate status and become the bases for differential treatment. It provides rewards for the dominating group in society and makes the minority group stay below. This process provides an illusion of equal but separate treatment for the people of the workplace. Making great strides since the 1960’s, woman to male inequality in the workforce has gone down, however it has not decreased enough. These laws have only been†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Stereotypes are categories that constrain and shape what a person believes about, and expects from, other people† (Bartlett 1910). The workplace is one of the most active environments for women to be s tereotyped against. Women are judged in ways such as being weaker than, and not as active as a man. This can be a problem for a woman in a male dominated occupation by making them feel, or seem, not as valuable as a man. For example, women in the police field will face the struggle of being seen as weaker, gentler, and to submissive to fight crime compared to men. This type of behavior leads to women not receiving much earned promotions, and having more struggles applying to male dominating jobs. Due to preconceived notions about their skills and abilities, male dominated fields are where women face the most scrutiny. â€Å"In this way, stereotype threat may create a vicious cycle that maintains and exacerbates the observed under-representation of women in male-dominated fields† (Van Hippel 160). These types of thoughts continue to re occur without much debate in individual minds through unnoticed and involuntary hegemony. â€Å"Once generalizations based on categories are fixed in people’s minds, the way they process information perpetuates those generalizations. They notice, ask questions about, remember, and integrate information that confirms their previously formed views† (Bartlett 1910). Once people are aware of what