Question

The position of women had changed a great deal in many societies over the past 50 years. But these societies cannot claim to have achieved gender equality. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Model Answer

In my country, the United Kingdom, the situation for woman has improved significantly over the last fifty years. You rarely see the sort of casual sexism in the media today that you did in the 1970s. That being said, I believe there is a long way to go before we achieve true gender equality, particular in relation to structural sexism that persists in many institutions.

One noticeable area of improvement is the way women are portrayed on television. Previously, most peak time comedy was based around sexist tropes such as meddling mother-in-laws or buxom secretaries. These shows are no longer commissioned partly because women are more involved in the making of TV shows. There are more female writers, producers and executives who create inclusive comedies that can be enjoyed by everyone.

Nonetheless, I think we are still a long way from achieving gender equality. While many industries are less male dominated than in the past, institutional sexism means women face obstacles not encountered by their male counterparts. To take an example from academia, a recent study found that scientific papers submitted with male names were more likely to be accepted for publication than identical articles authored by women. This is just the tip of the iceberg, however, as issues such as access to healthcare, equal pay, and sexual harassment also need to be addressed.

In conclusion, while the battles that have been fought and won by the previous generation of women should not be forgotten, sadly it will be many years before we can say that men and women are truly on an equal footing.

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