Gender Question
by Nombulelo | July 10, 2012 at 4:43 AM
Hello Everyone
I would like a wise answer on this one. I am a second year Journalism and Sociology student in South Africa and I am interested in doing research on women. I want to know what makes us different from men, whether we need men or not, wether we can actually lead countries and big business empires or not or wether we are really just supposed to be provided for. I want to do this because I myself am looking for 'self-actualisation' and I want to know if my dream of the gender gap being closed is merely that or not.
I would appreciated critique on this research question I have. I especially want to know if I should go through with it or not? has it been done to death or is there no point to it?
Thank You ladies
Comments
some thoughts
Hi!
I'm not the best specialist on this but I had some thoughts reading your question. I think that in the way you stated it now, your question will be quite difficult to answer in a sociological way. We all think here that yes, women can be true leaders and successful in power (both public as politicians or advocate or private as businesswomen). But by questioning this way, you might end up being short of arguments.
I think you should narrow your question. You could focus on the "different than men?" question, by studying women- and men-led businesses and see if there are actual differences. The difficulty with such topic would be to avoid the trap: women are more empathetic, they care more about the others, and all these eternal cliché about women. Some women leaders may be as reckless, powerful and direct than men.
Or you could focus more on the motivations for women leaders and on potential obstacles they meet. Do they have access to the same opportunities, or is there a "gender gap" in entrepreneurship chances? If you study journalism, maybe you could choose some women leading big media companies as case studies?
That's just some thoughts. I am not a sociologist although I work in gender issues.... I hope I could help a bit. Good luck with your work, anyway! don't forget to share the whole process with us there :)
Warm regards,
Aurore