Research paper on What gendered labor are women expected to perform and how does that impact their career?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Gendered Division of Labor: Women’s Expectations and Career Impact
Introduction
In today’s society, gender roles continue to influence the division of labor within households and workplaces. Women are often expected to perform specific tasks that are traditionally associated with their gender, such as caregiving, household chores, and emotional labor. These expectations can have significant implications for women’s careers, as they may face challenges in achieving work-life balance, career advancement, and equal opportunities in the workplace.
Gendered Labor Expectations
Women are frequently expected to take on the bulk of caregiving responsibilities, including childcare, eldercare, and household management. This unequal distribution of labor can result in women having less time and energy to devote to their careers. Additionally, women are often tasked with performing emotional labor, such as managing relationships, mediating conflicts, and providing support to others. While emotional labor is valuable in many professions, it can be draining and may not always be recognized or compensated appropriately.
Impact on Career Progression
The gendered division of labor can have a profound impact on women’s career progression. Women who are responsible for caregiving may have to make sacrifices in their careers, such as taking on part-time work, passing up promotions, or opting out of the workforce altogether. This can lead to a lack of advancement opportunities, lower wages, and decreased job satisfaction. Furthermore, women may face discrimination or bias in the workplace due to assumptions about their ability to balance work and family responsibilities.
Work-Life Balance Challenges
Balancing the demands of work and family can be particularly challenging for women who are expected to perform gendered labor. The pressure to excel in both domains can lead to stress, burnout, and feelings of inadequacy. Women may feel guilty for not being able to meet societal expectations of being the perfect worker, mother, partner, and homemaker. This can result in decreased job performance, strained relationships, and overall dissatisfaction with life.
Strategies for Change
To address the impact of gendered labor expectations on women’s careers, it is essential to challenge traditional gender roles and promote equality in the workplace and at home. Employers can implement policies that support work-life balance, offer flexible work arrangements, provide parental leave, and offer equal opportunities for career advancement. Individuals can also advocate for themselves by setting boundaries, seeking support from partners and family members, and challenging stereotypes about gender roles.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the gendered division of labor continues to shape women’s expectations and experiences in both their personal lives and careers. By recognizing the impact of these expectations and working towards greater equality and inclusivity, we can create a more supportive and empowering environment for women to thrive professionally and personally. It is crucial for society as a whole to understand the complexities of gendered labor and its implications for women’s career trajectories. Only through collective efforts to challenge stereotypes and promote gender equality can we create a more equitable future for all.
