Is The Reaction To Gender Discrimination In Australia A Moral Panic?

IS THE REACTION TO GENDER DISCRIMINATION IN AUSTRALIA IS AN EXAMPLE OF A MORAL PANIC? Student’s Name Course Professor’s Name University City (State) Date Is The Reaction to Gender Discrimination in Australia is an example of a Moral Panic? Gender disparity and discrimination remain a critical issue in many societies throughout the world. In a society where gender discrimination exists, there is an uneven treatment of people based on their gender. In Australia, gender discrimination is marked by the inconsistensies of individuals in a society based on their gender, hindering their abilities to fully contribute and get involved in society. Various aspects of inequalities and gender discrimination are experienced by various individuals in Australia. These individuals can either be men, women, transgender or genderqueer people, who, at any time, may experience discrimination in the society. Gender discrimination poses a great threat to society due to the restrictions and limiting of opportunities for certain individuals based on their gender. As a result, Australia is at the forefront to achieve gender equality and eliminate gender-based discrimination that conspicuously threatens the general welfare and success of the discriminated individuals. This essay will argue that gender discrimination in Australia is an example of moral panic, by analyzing the five theories of Goode and Ben‐Yehuda given in their book, Moral Panics: The Social Construction of Qeviance . Societies are often gripped by moral panics that prompt certain behaviors and societal actions to be witnessed. These behaviors are portrayed as control measures against looming threats that endanger society. According to Goode and Ben-Yehuda (2009), these threats are provoking and often evoke episodes of “heightened emotion, fear, dread, anxiety, hostility, and a strong feeling of righteousness” (p. 35). The fear of far-reaching consequences causes the entire society or segments of the society to respond with the intention of resolving the issues. Goode and Ben-Yehuda (2009) also point out the five platforms or channels through which oral panics are expressed, including the media, the citizenry, political involvement, social engagements, and the involvement of law of enforcement channels (p.49). Social panic is a controversial area that occasionally overlaps with certain criminal activities that are subject to close scrutiny. Also, the five elements of moral panic, namely, concern, hostility towards the ‘evil doers’, societal consensus, disproportion, and volatility, define the limits of what characterizes moral panic (Goode and Ben-Yehuda 2009). In this discussion, certain aspects of the reactions to gender discrimination in Austalia are weighed against the listed elements of moral panic. Australia is among the countries leading in promoting gender equality across all sectors. Notably, the country was ranked 35th on the global index in 2017 in terms of gender inequality and discrimination. A report by the Australian Human Rights Commission indicates that various achievements have been met in various fields, including in universities, at workplaces, in the government, and in boardrooms, where an increasing number of women are taking up leading positions (The ...